Quick Facts: Paid Clinical Trials in Portland
- Actively recruiting studies (July 2026): 969 (ClinicalTrials.gov)
- Typical compensation: $50–$100 per completed outpatient visit; residential Phase 1 studies pay more (see highest paid clinical trials)
- Cost to participate: $0 — study care and visits are covered by the sponsor
- Worth knowing: OHSU is on Marquam Hill, reachable by the aerial tram from the South Waterfront — parking there is famously difficult
- Statewide options: paid clinical trials in Oregon
Where Portland trials actually run
We sampled recruiting Portland studies on ClinicalTrials.gov in July 2026. The sites running the most trials:
| Research site | Trials sampled |
|---|---|
| Oregon Health & Science University | 175 |
| Providence Portland Medical Center | 59 |
| Providence St. Vincent Medical Center | 50 |
| OHSU Knight Cancer Institute | 18 |
OHSU sits on Marquam Hill with the Knight Cancer Institute, reachable by the Portland Aerial Tram from the South Waterfront. Providence runs studies at its Portland and St. Vincent hospitals, and at community hospitals outside the city for people who would rather not travel downtown.
Portland Paid Clinical Trial FAQs
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How much do paid clinical trials pay here?
Most outpatient studies pay $50–$100 per completed visit, plus travel reimbursement. Residential Phase 1 studies pay considerably more. The exact amount appears in the consent form before you enroll.
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Do I need to be an OHSU patient to join a trial?
No. OHSU recruits from the general public, including healthy volunteers for some studies. Each protocol sets its own eligibility criteria, so check the study record or call the coordinator.
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Are there trials outside downtown Portland?
Yes. Providence runs studies at St. Vincent in the west hills and at community hospitals around the metro, including Newberg. If travel to Marquam Hill is a problem, ask coordinators whether a study has a suburban site.
Research Opportunities for Healthy Volunteers
Portland accounts for most of Oregon’s clinical research. As of July 2026, 969 studies are actively recruiting in the city, according to ClinicalTrials.gov, with Oregon Health & Science University and the Providence hospital network running the large majority.
Portland’s population is approximately 666,249, the CSA of the area as of 2019 is 2,492,412. Crunching the numbers, it looks like each CRO in or around Portland will have at minimum 37 opportunities for individual participants. In the CSA, that expands the potential number to about 141 per CRO. So the average between the two is 89. In and around Portland, each CRO should have around that many individual opportunities. To narrow things down further, let’s look at localized demographics.
Demographic Data Indicates Trial Availability
Because paid clinical trials nearby for healthy volunteers have to work from the available volunteers in a given community, demographic realities tend to define what’s available where.
From the World Population link earlier, it appears 75.32% of the population is white, 8.65% are Asian, 6.37% are two or more races, those of African descent are 4.89%, and other races are at 2.31%. Additional categories are statistically minimal. The median age of the region is 37.3, 50.42% of locals are female, 49.58% are male.
Interpreting Portland Demographic Information to Find Paid Trials
Interpreting this information, the data seem to indicate paid clinical trials for healthy volunteers will be most available for white women in their late thirties, followed by white men in the same category. That said, trials tend to benefit from expanded diversity, so don’t expect this to totally restrict opportunities locally; especially for studies involving medicine designed for the general population.
Portland CROs Healthy Participants Can Explore
In order to get an idea what healthy volunteer paid clinical trials are available in and around Portland throughout the adjacent CSA, we’ve put together a list of several CROs Where you might be able to find paid clinical trials:
Medical Trends in Portland Expanding Science
There are a lot of medical discoveries that happen on a regular basis throughout Portland, getting involved with a CRO can give you the opportunity to be involved in medical advances such as the following:
- A Portland-Local Professional is Largely Responsible for EMR
- Portland Doctors First to Provide New Cancer Treatments
- Alleviation of Medical Conditions Related to Walking
Portland Trial Opportunities For Different Healthy Volunteers
The Pacific Northwest is one of the most beautiful, historical regions of the country. It’s also a bit expensive. But if you need to supplement your income, opportunities through CROs can be a fine move. You can help science advance, make money, and be part of modern history all at the same time.