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Finding Trials in Houston
There’s a large population in Houston making up a wide array of organizations that have, as their primary focus, healthcare solutions. Such organizations have led to a wide array of clinical trials for individuals interested in paid research opportunities. Houston has them in abundance. A big reason Clinical Research Organizations (CROs) have such a presence in the area is that extensive diversity defines Houston, predicating a clear need for healthcare services. The city has substantial opportunities for clinical trial sponsors who regularly need healthy volunteers. In a nutshell: Houston’s population is in constant growth, the economy is strong, and opportunities for those willing to participate in clinical research for money are ample.
Paid clinical trials for healthy volunteers in Houston put participants at the heart of world-class medical advancement. In Texas, everything is bigger. Houston is, perhaps, the archetypical metropolis truly fleshing out this perspective. When you consider that about 1 in 8 workers in Houston proper (excluding metropolitan areas) are involved in the healthcare industry, it’s almost like you’ve got the “pick of the litter”, as the saying goes, when it comes to paid clinical trial options.
Steadily Expanding Demographics
Including the metropolitan area surrounding the city, there are approximately 7.12 million people in Houston. Any city that size is going to need strong healthcare to sustain the population and advance science. Collaterally, Houston has one of the world’s largest medical complexes, employing 376,000+ healthcare workers, and providing ample opportunity for healthy volunteer paid clinical trials. The key word is “healthy volunteer”. If you’ve got your health and a little boldness, you can pick and choose varying trials, collaterally advancing science while being compensated for your time. Those seeking work in this industry will find it. Paid clinical trials for healthy volunteers are everywhere.
The population of Houston is steadily growing even in the wake of 2020’s health crisis. Houston is one of Texas’ most diverse cities, with only about 51% of the population being caucasian. What this means is that healthcare isn’t only diverse, but by dint of necessity it must be diverse, and new healthcare options for a diverse population are consistently being researched.
Essentially, if you’re local and doing a search engine query for “paid clinical trials near me for healthy volunteers”, you’re going to find endless options in Houston. Whether you just need a little additional income or you’re trying to help healthcare professionals advance medical science, Houston is fertile ground.
Electrophysiologic Sleep Phenotyping and Sleep-Dependent Neuro-maturation in Clinical and Healthy Pediatric Populations
Recruiting
Background:
During the first few decades of life, the brain changes dramatically in shape and function. Sleep lets researchers measure these changes. Researchers want to create a database of sleep and neurodevelopmental data in a group of infants and children to learn more.
Objective:
To address a knowledge and data gap in the field of sleep and neurodevelopment in infants and children.
Eligibility:
Children ages 6 months to 76 months who may or may not be at risk for neurodevelopmental and... Read More
Background:
During the first few decades of life, the brain changes dramatically in shape and function. Sleep lets researchers measure these changes. Researchers want to create a database of sleep and neurodevelopmental data in a group of infants and children to learn more.
Objective:
To address a knowledge and data gap in the field of sleep and neurodevelopment in infants and children.
Eligibility:
Children ages 6 months to 76 months who may or may not be at risk for neurodevelopmental and neuropsychiatric disorders. Also, children ages 6 months to 8 years who have a referral for a sleep study.
Design:
Participants will have neurodevelopmental testing. They will have a medical, psychiatric, and family history. They will have a physical and neurological exam. They will be interviewed and complete surveys. They will give a cheek swab and/or blood sample.
Some participants will have 1 study visit that lasts 2 days.
Other participants will have up to 4 study visits. Each visit will last 2 days. Visits occur every 8 months to 1 year, for a total participation time of 2 years.
Participants will have a 20-minute daytime electroencephalogram (EEG), if possible. This EEG session will be used to calibrate the machine for the overnight study.
Participants will take part in an inpatient overnight sleep study. Electrodes will be placed on the participants. For young children, parents will help place the EEG leads. Other sensors may also be placed. A gauze cap will be placed on participants head to protect the leads and keep the participants from moving them. 'Lights out' will occur as close to participants bedtime as possible. Read Less
Gender:
ALL
Ages:
Between 6 months and 8 years
Trial Updated:
08/09/2025
Locations: National Institutes of Health Clinical Center, Bethesda, Maryland
Texas Children's Hospital, Houston, Texas
Conditions: Healthy Children, Children With Neurodevelopmental Disorders, Children With Neuropsychiatric Disorders, Children With Behavioral Syndromes
Deliver-EE: Evaluating Effects of Meal Delivery
Recruiting
This study will randomly assign 2,300 older adults on waiting lists at fourteen Meals on Wheels programs in Florida, Illinois, Maryland, Tennessee, Texas, North Carolina, South Carolina, and California into two groups who will receive: (a) daily delivery of meals, five days a week or (b) a shipment of 10 frozen meals, every two weeks. Researchers will examine participants' Medicare claims to understand if differences in healthcare utilization occur between the two groups within six months after... Read More
This study will randomly assign 2,300 older adults on waiting lists at fourteen Meals on Wheels programs in Florida, Illinois, Maryland, Tennessee, Texas, North Carolina, South Carolina, and California into two groups who will receive: (a) daily delivery of meals, five days a week or (b) a shipment of 10 frozen meals, every two weeks. Researchers will examine participants' Medicare claims to understand if differences in healthcare utilization occur between the two groups within six months after they start receiving meals. Researchers will also ask participants questions prior to receiving meals, and again at three months, to understand how meals impact their ability to obtain food, their feelings of loneliness, and their overall quality of life. The primary study outcome will be the ratio of days spent in institutional settings (i.e., hospital, nursing home) in the six months after participants begin receiving meals. The secondary outcomes include the ratio of days spent in institutional settings in the three months after participants begin receiving meals, food insecurity, subjective isolation/loneliness, and health-related quality of life. The team will also examine differences in dietary intake between the two groups as an exploratory outcome. Read Less
Gender:
ALL
Ages:
66 years and above
Trial Updated:
04/21/2025
Locations: Meals on Wheels San Diego County, San Diego, California
Northwest Assistance Ministries, Houston, Texas
Conditions: Healthy
Selective PET Imaging of Astrocytes and Microglia in Alzheimer's Disease
Recruiting
Inflammation occurs in many brain diseases including Alzheimer's disease. In Alzheimer's disease, amyloid starts accumulating decades before the start of forgetfulness. Basic scientists have reported that inflammation but not amyloid is linked to forgetfulness. When people pinch a finger, it gets swollen. Similar changes occur in brain from various causes. New medications are under development to help healing and prevent permanent damages in the brain. When people pinch a finger, they can check... Read More
Inflammation occurs in many brain diseases including Alzheimer's disease. In Alzheimer's disease, amyloid starts accumulating decades before the start of forgetfulness. Basic scientists have reported that inflammation but not amyloid is linked to forgetfulness. When people pinch a finger, it gets swollen. Similar changes occur in brain from various causes. New medications are under development to help healing and prevent permanent damages in the brain. When people pinch a finger, they can check if the injury is healing or getting worse by watching. Investigators can watch inside of the brain using a special camera called positron emission tomography (PET). It is currently possible to watch inflammation in the brain by taking pictures of a molecule called translocator protein (TSPO). But the problem is that by imaging TSPO, investigators can catch changes in more than one kind of cells. The information is not specific to each cell type. Such vague information is not useful to monitor the effect of new medications for inflammation. This proposal attempts to develop a novel method to capture changes in each of two major players in inflammation, microglia and astrocytes. To do so, investigators will take selective pictures of one cell type by using a novel imaging agent for PET. Investigators will also take PET pictures of TSPO. Investigators will process these two kinds of PET pictures using advanced mathematical methods and extract specific information on microglia and astrocytes. Our novel method will be useful to monitor new therapies to treat inflammation in brain. Read Less
Gender:
ALL
Ages:
Between 18 years and 90 years
Trial Updated:
01/20/2023
Locations: Houston Methodist Research Institute, Houston, Texas
Houston Methodist Research Institute, Houston, Texas
Conditions: Alzheimer Disease, Healthy
Hyperpolarized 129Xe MRI Lung Health Cohort
Recruiting
A subset of young adults participating in the American Lung Association (ALA) Lung Health Cohort (LHC) will be imaged using Hyperpolarized 129Xe MRI to assess lung structure and function. Images will be used to improve the understanding of lung health and early lung abnormalities that may lead to chronic lung disease.
A subset of young adults participating in the American Lung Association (ALA) Lung Health Cohort (LHC) will be imaged using Hyperpolarized 129Xe MRI to assess lung structure and function. Images will be used to improve the understanding of lung health and early lung abnormalities that may lead to chronic lung disease. Read Less
Gender:
ALL
Ages:
Between 25 years and 35 years
Trial Updated:
04/01/2025
Locations: University of Illinois-Chicago, Chicago, Illinois +1 locations
Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas
MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas
Conditions: Healthy
Fluid Loading Countermeasures
Recruiting
The purpose of Fluid Loading Countermeasures is to determine how the volume of blood and of plasma (liquid part of blood) change during a normal day, how these are affected by drinking an additional amount of fluid either as water and salt tablets (as astronauts do) or an electrolyte beverage (similar to but tastes saltier than Gatorade®), and how altering the timing at which the additional fluid is consumed affects blood and plasma volume. This study observes how blood volume changes over \~9 h... Read More
The purpose of Fluid Loading Countermeasures is to determine how the volume of blood and of plasma (liquid part of blood) change during a normal day, how these are affected by drinking an additional amount of fluid either as water and salt tablets (as astronauts do) or an electrolyte beverage (similar to but tastes saltier than Gatorade®), and how altering the timing at which the additional fluid is consumed affects blood and plasma volume. This study observes how blood volume changes over \~9 hours of the day during 4 separate visits in healthy participants. During 1 visit participants will drink a small amount of water throughout the visit. During the other 3 study visits participants will drink the small amount of water plus either more water with salt tablets or an electrolyte solution. Consuming the additional fluids is called "fluid loading". This study is meant to simulate the food and fluid consumption of astronauts on landing day. The goal of this study is to determine the magnitude of plasma volume change that occurs with each condition of the protocol. (ICF 1.1, 3.1) Read Less
Gender:
ALL
Ages:
Between 25 years and 55 years
Trial Updated:
07/08/2024
Locations: NASA, Houston, Texas
NASA, Houston, Texas
Conditions: Healthy
Effect of Sex on Orthostatic Intolerance and Cardiovascular Response During Lunar Descent and Ascent
Recruiting
The purpose of Lunar OI (Orthostatic Intolerance) is to determine if there are differences between males and females in tolerance to and cardiovascular responses during different angles of head-up tilt simulating gravity levels less than or equal to Earth's gravity. Also, this study will determine if a gradient compression garment affects tolerance to tilting and the cardiovascular stress at different tilt angles. Males and females are being identified by biological sex. This will be a two-phase... Read More
The purpose of Lunar OI (Orthostatic Intolerance) is to determine if there are differences between males and females in tolerance to and cardiovascular responses during different angles of head-up tilt simulating gravity levels less than or equal to Earth's gravity. Also, this study will determine if a gradient compression garment affects tolerance to tilting and the cardiovascular stress at different tilt angles. Males and females are being identified by biological sex. This will be a two-phased study design. In Phase I we will determine whether there are differences in the development of signs or symptoms of orthostatic intolerance between males and females when tilted head up on a table to different angles to simulate gravity levels that astronauts may experience when landing on or launching from the surface of the Moon. In Phase II, the tilt tests simulating the same gravity levels from Phase I will be repeated, but a custom-made lower-body compression garment will be worn to see if wearing the garment affects the development of orthostatic intolerance. For both study phases, before tilting, a drug will be administered to reduce the amount fluid in the blood (plasma) to levels similar to that experienced by astronauts during spaceflight. Read Less
Gender:
ALL
Ages:
Between 25 years and 55 years
Trial Updated:
03/31/2025
Locations: NASA, Houston, Texas
NASA, Houston, Texas
Conditions: Healthy
Gamma Oscillations as a Prognostic Marker for Ketamine Therapy in Treatment Resistant Depression
Recruiting
The core objective of this study is to enhance the translational potential of this electroencephalogram (EEG) biomarker by using ketamine(KET)-induced gamma potentiation as a prognostic marker of 4-week treatment outcome. Previous research focused exclusively on KET-induced gamma band potentiation (GBP) in the context of a single infusion. Our study design captures the clinical variation associated with real-world treatment resistant depression (TRD) patients and allows us to analyze the relativ... Read More
The core objective of this study is to enhance the translational potential of this electroencephalogram (EEG) biomarker by using ketamine(KET)-induced gamma potentiation as a prognostic marker of 4-week treatment outcome. Previous research focused exclusively on KET-induced gamma band potentiation (GBP) in the context of a single infusion. Our study design captures the clinical variation associated with real-world treatment resistant depression (TRD) patients and allows us to analyze the relative importance of GBP to antidepressant symptom reduction across the induction phase of treatment. If successful, it provides a compelling rationale for a larger prospective investigation of gamma dynamics as a moderator of outcome to varied TRD therapies which impact the balance of cortical excitation and inhibition. Read Less
Gender:
ALL
Ages:
Between 21 years and 45 years
Trial Updated:
07/17/2025
Locations: Wells Medicine, Houston, Texas +1 locations
Wells Medicine, Houston, Texas
Baylor College of Medicine Jamail Specialty Care Center, Houston, Texas
Conditions: Healthy, Major Depressive Disorder, Treatment Resistant Depression
Blood Flow Restriction (BFR) Training on the Ulnar Collateral Ligament (UCL)
Recruiting
The goal of this clinical trial is to identify any differences in elbow ulnar collateral ligament (UCL) relative thickness and joint space laxity in the dominant arm following an 8-week course of low intensity resistance exercises with blood flow restriction (BFR) exercises in healthy volunteers. The main questions it aims to answer are:
1. Do BFR exercises contribute to a change in the relative ligament thickness of the UCL, and changes in the ulnohumeral joint space?
2. Are there changes in a... Read More
The goal of this clinical trial is to identify any differences in elbow ulnar collateral ligament (UCL) relative thickness and joint space laxity in the dominant arm following an 8-week course of low intensity resistance exercises with blood flow restriction (BFR) exercises in healthy volunteers. The main questions it aims to answer are:
1. Do BFR exercises contribute to a change in the relative ligament thickness of the UCL, and changes in the ulnohumeral joint space?
2. Are there changes in arm strength following the 8-week strengthening protocol with/without BFR?
Participants will:
* Complete two BFR sessions a week for a total of eight weeks.
* Complete an exercise session with both arms (dominant arm will receive BFR) at each study visit.
* Have sonographs taken of the UCL at the first and last study visit.
* Complete strength assessments at the first and last study visit. Read Less
Gender:
ALL
Ages:
Between 18 years and 50 years
Trial Updated:
01/21/2025
Locations: Houston Methodist Hospital, Houston, Texas
Houston Methodist Hospital, Houston, Texas
Conditions: Healthy, Healthy Male and Female Subjects, Healthy Volunteers
Study of a 21-valent Pneumococcal Conjugate Vaccine in Healthy Infants From Approximately 2 Months of Age
Recruiting
This study is a Phase 3, randomized, modified double-blind study which aims to measure whether PCV21 vaccine (investigational pneumococcal conjugate vaccine) is safe and can help the body to develop germ-fighting agents called "antibodies" (immunogenicity) compared with 15vPCV (Vaxneuvance, licensed pneumococcal conjugate vaccine) when they are administered with routine pediatric vaccines in infants aged from approximately 2 months (42 to 112 days).
The study duration per participant will be up... Read More
This study is a Phase 3, randomized, modified double-blind study which aims to measure whether PCV21 vaccine (investigational pneumococcal conjugate vaccine) is safe and can help the body to develop germ-fighting agents called "antibodies" (immunogenicity) compared with 15vPCV (Vaxneuvance, licensed pneumococcal conjugate vaccine) when they are administered with routine pediatric vaccines in infants aged from approximately 2 months (42 to 112 days).
The study duration per participant will be up to approximately 20 months. The study vaccines (either PCV21 or 15-valent pneumococcal vaccines) will be administered at approximately 2, 4, and 11 to 15 months of age or at approximately 2, 3, 4, and 11 to 15 months of age (for preterm infants). Routine pediatric vaccines will be given at the same timepoints, as per local practice / recommendations.
• There will be 5 (for full-term infants) or 6 (for preterm infants) study visits:
* Full-term infants: Visit (V)01, V02 separated from V01 by 60 days, V03 separated from V02 by 30 days, V04 at 11 months of age until 15 months of age, V05 separated from V04 by 30 days.
* Preterm infants: Visit (V)01, V02 separated from V01 by 30 days, V03 separated from V02 by 30 days, V04 separated from V03 by 30 days, V05 at 11 months of age until 15 months of age, V06 separated from V05 by 30 days. Read Less
Gender:
ALL
Ages:
Between 42 days and 112 days
Trial Updated:
08/19/2025
Locations: Investigational Site Number : 2460001, Houston, Texas
Investigational Site Number : 2460001, Houston, Texas
Conditions: Pneumococcal Immunization, Healthy Volunteers
A Study to Test How BI 1291583 is Taken up in the Blood of People With and Without Liver Problems
Recruiting
This study is open to adults aged between 18 and 80 years of age with a body mass index (BMI) of 18.5 to 42 kg/m². People with or without liver problems can take part in the study. The purpose of this study is to find out how much of a medicine called BI 1291583 gets into the blood of people with and without liver problems. BI 1291583 is being developed to treat people with bronchiectasis, a chronic disease of the lungs. People living with this condition often also have liver problems. Therefore... Read More
This study is open to adults aged between 18 and 80 years of age with a body mass index (BMI) of 18.5 to 42 kg/m². People with or without liver problems can take part in the study. The purpose of this study is to find out how much of a medicine called BI 1291583 gets into the blood of people with and without liver problems. BI 1291583 is being developed to treat people with bronchiectasis, a chronic disease of the lungs. People living with this condition often also have liver problems. Therefore, it is important to find out whether liver problems influence the amount of BI 1291583 that gets into the blood.
Study participants receive a single dose of BI 1291583 as a tablet taken by mouth. Participants are divided into 4 groups based on how well their liver works: 1 group without liver problems, and 3 groups with mild, moderate, and severe liver problems. Each participant without liver problems is matched with participants from the other groups based on factors such as age, sex, smoking habits, and body weight to ensure accurate comparisons.
Participants are in the study for about 3 months. They stay for 3 days at the study site and also visit the study site up to 9 times. During these visits, the doctors collect information about participants' health. To assess the study endpoints, the doctors regularly take blood samples from the participants. The doctors regularly check participants' health and take note of any unwanted effects. Read Less
Gender:
ALL
Ages:
Between 18 years and 80 years
Trial Updated:
08/12/2025
Locations: Orlando Clinical Research Center, Orlando, Florida
Tranquil Clinical Research, Houston, Texas
Conditions: Healthy, Hepatic Impairment
World-Class Healthcare
CROs offering clinical trials in Houston offer opportunities to fit whatever your preferences are. Check out this short bullet list of available CROs in the area:
- Moncoa Medical Research
- Mirobac Laboratories
- PRA Health Sciences
- RD Clinical Research
- Animal Technologies
- Audie L. Murphy Memorial VA Hospital (STVHCS)
- Antimicrobial Test Laboratories
- Abbexa Ltd.
That’s just the tip of the iceberg, check out this link for a more extensive list.
Notable Medical Breakthroughs in Houston
Harris County has 80 hospitals in and of itself, and when you expand into the Greater Houston area, there are over 125. Numerous research facilities are absolutely fundamental to the region, and for anyone interested in paid clinical trials, that means opportunity. Data bears this out; there have been many scientific breakthroughs in medical science from Houston. Several include:
- The Dacron Graft
- Mobile Stroke Units
- Rett Syndrome
- Gene Discovery
- Human Hearts Grown In a Lab From Organic Substrates
- Breakthroughs in Cancer-Fighting Medication
Read more on medical breakthroughs that are centered in Houston here.
Advancing Financial Security and Science Simultaneously
Whether you’re a medical student seeking some of the best education in the world, or someone trying to supplement the rising costs of living, you’ll find options in Houston. Houston clinical trials are extensive by necessity, and the history of the region shows they commonly lead to breakthroughs that benefit not only the local community but the world itself. Houston is a global destination for the healthcare industry, and there’s good reason for that.