Medical Information Only. Consult your healthcare provider before enrolling in any clinical trial.
North Carolina: below-average open trial sites
1,847 of 5,625 in-state trials are recruiting (33%); below the 37% national average by 4 percentage points.
According to ClinicalTrials.gov-derived indexes, North Carolina sits in the upper quartile of US states by in-state trial count (#10 of 52 states by registered in-state trial count).
North Carolina: 5,625 US clinical trials with in-state sites, 1,847 recruiting.
North Carolina has 5,625 registered US clinical trials with a study site in-state, 1,847 of them currently recruiting (below the 37% national average by 4 percentage points). 890 of these trials are in Phase 3 (late-stage) and 1,270 in Phase 2. The most frequently studied condition in North Carolina is Breast Cancer, with 126 linked trials.
Upper-quartile research density
North Carolina sits in the upper quartile by in-state trial count. Open share is below the 37% national average by 4 percentage points - denser than most states, still short of the top-decile research hubs.
Below-average open enrollment
North Carolina still shows 1,847 recruiting of 5,625 in-state trials (33% open), but below the 37% national average by 4 percentage points, so archived statuses weigh heavier than the national baseline.
- 33%
- open (below national share)
- 1,847
- still recruiting despite cool share
- 1,270
- Phase 2 rows in this footprint
- 126
- top: Breast Cancer
Recruiting share is below the 37% national average by 4 percentage points. Counts include every study with at least one recorded site in the state. Registry reference only, not medical advice.
North Carolina vs all states by indexed in-state trial count
Where this state's ClinicalTrials.gov site count sits among every state with at least one listed trial (coverage density, not care quality)
5,625 Top 19% more indexed trials than 81% of 52 states
States, banded by indexed in-state trial count
Each bar is a band; taller bars hold more states. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count and share, and where it sits relative to this entry.
Source ClinicalTrials.gov · 2026-08-08
Key findings
What ClinicalTrials.gov does not surface for North Carolina on its own pages , computed from the registry mirror as of 2026-08-08. Each line carries its own denominator so it can be quoted as it stands.
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North Carolina open-enrollment share sits below the national baseline.
1,847 of 5,625 in-state trials (32.8%) are recruiting, against 37% nationally (-4.2 percentage points). Counts include every study with at least one recorded site in the state.
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North Carolina trial sites spread across 8 city hubs.
Durham lists 1,978 of 5,625 in-state trials (35.2%) across 466 named facilities. Cities need five or more listed trials to appear here; locations are as filed by sponsors.
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Breast Cancer is the most-studied condition in North Carolina.
126 of 5,625 in-state trials (2.2%) list Breast Cancer. That is a local concentration figure, not a national disease ranking.
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North Carolina sponsorship is fragmented across many organizations.
Duke University appears on 496 of 5,625 in-state trials (8.8%). Sponsor identity is as filed on ClinicalTrials.gov.
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2,684 North Carolina trials carry a completed status.
2,684 of 5,625 (47.7%) are completed. The open share above is the remainder that still lists recruiting.
By Status
| Status | Trial count |
|---|---|
| Completed | 2,684 |
| Recruiting | 1,847 |
| Active | 1,094 |
By Phase
| Phase | Trial count |
|---|---|
| NA | 1,462 |
| Phase 2 | 1,270 |
| Phase 3 | 890 |
| Phase 1 | 857 |
| Phase 4 | 234 |
| Early Phase 1 | 44 |
Top Conditions
Top Sponsors
Where trials run in North Carolina
Durham carries 1,978 of North Carolina's 5,625 indexed trials (35%) across 466 named sites, ahead of Chapel Hill at 1,263. 8 cities clear five listed trials, together naming 1,927 distinct sites.
| City | Trials | Listed sites |
|---|---|---|
| Durham | 1,978 | 466 |
| Chapel Hill | 1,263 | 365 |
| Winston-Salem | 954 | 264 |
| Charlotte | 823 | 381 |
| Raleigh | 317 | 193 |
| Greenville | 153 | 79 |
| Wilmington | 151 | 82 |
| Greensboro | 138 | 97 |
Distinct trials and named sites per city, as filed with ClinicalTrials.gov; cities under five trials omitted. Vintage 2026-08-08.
Volume high
North Carolina indexes 5,625 in-state trials (p82 by registry volume among 52 states with sites).
North Carolina: in-state trial volume sits in the high tercile
Sites spread across 8 cities with five or more listed trials, led by Durham (1,978, 35% of the state total) and Chapel Hill (1,263), together naming 1,927 distinct research locations.
Phase mix: 890 Phase 3 vs 1,270 Phase 2 (balanced across stages).
Top condition: Breast Cancer (126 trials); top sponsor Duke University (496).
high-volume · mid-open figures (5,625 trials · 33% open) describe registry geography under the volume high read, not clinic capacity or protocol fit. Confirm status on ClinicalTrials.gov before acting.
States near North Carolina on in-state trial volume
Cross-state peers under the volume high read (high-volume · mid-open), not the same-state browse list.
Similar high-volume hubs (± open share)
Similar mid-open peers (± trial volume)
- Iowa · 33% recruiting · 1,544 trials
- New Hampshire · 33% recruiting · 471 trials
- California · 33% recruiting · 16,646 trials
- Florida · 33% recruiting · 10,986 trials
- Washington · 33% recruiting · 2,795 trials