Diabetes Clinical Trials by State: Find One Near You

Why Clinical Trials Matter for Diabetes Patients

Right now, hundreds of diabetes clinical trials are actively recruiting participants across the United States — from stem cell transplants in Boston to automated insulin delivery studies in Los Angeles. These trials represent the leading edge of diabetes science, and patients who participate often gain access to cutting-edge treatments years before they reach pharmacies or clinics.

Whether you have Type 1, Type 2, or a rarer form of diabetes, there is almost certainly a study happening near you. The challenge is knowing where to look, what questions to ask, and how to evaluate whether participation makes sense for your situation.

The National Hub: ClinicalTrials.gov

The single most important resource for finding diabetes trials is ClinicalTrials.gov, a database maintained by the U.S. National Library of Medicine. As of 2025, a search for "diabetes" on ClinicalTrials.gov returns more than 15,000 registered studies, with several thousand actively recruiting. You can filter by condition (Type 1, Type 2, gestational diabetes, LADA), age group, location, and study phase. The site lists contact information, eligibility criteria, and compensation details for most trials.

When searching, use specific terms like "Type 1 diabetes insulin" or "Type 2 diabetes GLP-1" to narrow results. Setting your location radius to 50–100 miles often reveals surprising options at regional academic medical centers.

High-Profile Trials Recruiting Now (2025)

Several landmark trials are currently enrolling patients at sites across multiple states:

Vertex Pharmaceuticals — VX-880 and VX-264: Vertex's VX-880 trial involves transplanting stem cell-derived islet cells into Type 1 diabetes patients. Early published results showed some participants achieving meaningful insulin independence. VX-264, which encapsulates those same cells in a device to avoid immunosuppression, is in early trials at select U.S. centers. Sites include Massachusetts General Hospital and others. These are among the most watched trials in T1D research.

The PROTECT Trial (ATG + GCSF): Sponsored by the Immune Tolerance Network and funded by NIDDK, the PROTECT trial tested anti-thymocyte globulin (ATG) plus granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) in newly diagnosed Type 1 diabetes patients to preserve remaining beta cell function. Results published in 2023 showed partial beta cell preservation in treated participants, making immune therapy a continued area of active follow-up research at multiple U.S. academic centers.

Teplizumab (Tzield) Follow-Up Studies: Since Provention Bio's teplizumab became the first FDA-approved drug to delay Type 1 diabetes onset in 2022 (now marketed by Sanofi as Tzield), researchers are conducting follow-up studies to understand long-term outcomes and whether repeat dosing extends protection. Sites span major diabetes centers nationwide.

Closed-Loop / Artificial Pancreas Trials: Companies including Tandem Diabetes Care, Insulet (Omnipod), and Beta Bionics are running pivotal and post-market studies on next-generation automated insulin delivery systems. The Beta Bionics iLet Bionic Pancreas completed its pivotal trial with strong results and received FDA clearance; ongoing real-world studies continue at pediatric and adult centers across multiple states.

GLP-1 and Combination Therapy Trials: Eli Lilly's tirzepatide (Mounjaro/Zepbound) and ongoing semaglutide studies continue to generate new trials examining cardiovascular outcomes, kidney protection, and use in Type 1 diabetes. Novo Nordisk, Eli Lilly, and emerging biotech firms have active recruiting sites in nearly every state.

Finding Trials by State: A Practical Guide

Here's how to systematically search for trials in your state:

• Step 1: Go to ClinicalTrials.gov and enter your condition plus your state or ZIP code.
• Step 2: Filter for "Recruiting" status only — many listed studies are complete or not yet open.
• Step 3: Check eligibility criteria carefully before contacting sites — HbA1c ranges, age limits, and diabetes duration requirements are commonly used filters.
• Step 4: Contact your own endocrinologist — many academic centers enroll through referring physicians and your doctor may know of trials not yet fully listed online.
• Step 5: Check JDRF.org (now Breakthrough T1D) for Type 1-specific trial finders, and the American Diabetes Association's research pages for Type 2 options.

Major research hubs with consistently high trial activity include: Joslin Diabetes Center (Boston), Barbara Davis Center (Denver), University of Florida, Stanford Medical Center, University of Chicago, and the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai (New York).

Current Status (2025)

The diabetes clinical trial landscape in 2025 is genuinely active. Beta cell replacement therapy has moved from science fiction to early human trials with real results. Immune therapy has its first FDA-approved drug. Automated insulin delivery is no longer experimental — it's standard of care for many patients, with newer systems in late-stage trials. GLP-1 receptor agonist research continues to expand into Type 1, kidney disease, and heart failure populations. The honest reality: most trials take 3–7 years from Phase 1 to FDA approval, and many promising therapies will not succeed. But the pipeline has never been more robust.

What This Means for Patients

Participating in a clinical trial is not the right choice for everyone, but for many patients — especially those with difficult-to-control diabetes, early-stage Type 1, or risk factors for complications — trials offer access to treatments and monitoring that exceed standard care. Most trials are free to participants and many provide compensation for time and travel. You are never obligated to continue a trial once enrolled, and your standard care continues regardless of participation.

For patients managing diabetes day-to-day while exploring trial options, reliable access to current supplies and technology remains essential. Resources like mdsdiabetes.com provide CGM supplies, insulin pump accessories, and educational support that complement whatever treatment path you're on — whether that's standard care or cutting-edge trial participation.

The bottom line: if you have diabetes, you have more options today than at any point in history. Use ClinicalTrials.gov, talk to your endocrinologist, and ask whether a trial might be right for you.