CHARLOTTE, NC

Diabetic Foot Ulcer Clinical Trials

3 diabetic foot ulcer studies are enrolling near Charlotte NC. Also, free wound care every week, free study treatment, and no insurance needed. Compensation is provided for eligible participants.

Active Studies

Research Sites

+/- $100

Per Visit

New here? Read how this page works

Every study below is open near Charlotte right now. Each card says who it is looking for, what happens each week, and what it pays. So here is the simplest way through them.

Read the three cards below. Two are wound studies that pay. Also, one is a bone infection registry that does not.
Open More details. Besides that, inside are the rules on ulcer size, how long it has been open, and your A1C.
Tap Check eligibility on the one that fits. Not sure? Then use the button at the bottom and we check you against all 3 at once.
We send your results. Also, you get the clinic name and number. Finally, you call them yourself if you want to go ahead.

Of course, checking never signs you up for anything. You are only seeing where you might fit.

The 3 Foot Ulcer Studies Enrolling Near Charlotte

All three are open today. Two pay for weekly visits, and one is a registry that does not. So check the details before you call.

Placental Tissue Grafts for a Wound That Will Not Close

Samaritan Biologics / Tissue graft

A thin graft made from donated birth tissue is laid on the ulcer once a week. Everyone also gets full standard wound care, so nobody is left with nothing.

Late stage, real world use Recruiting

Est. about $100 per visit. Ask the site for the total number of visits.

Check eligibility →

More details

Why researchers are excited: these grafts are already used in wound clinics, but this study measures properly whether they close ulcers faster than good care alone.

Who this study is looking for

Adults 18 and older with type 1 or type 2 diabetes
Also, A foot ulcer that has been open between 4 weeks and a year
Besides that, the ulcer measures about 1 to 20 square centimetres after cleaning
Finally, enough blood flow in the leg, which the clinic checks with a simple scan

Probably not a fit if: the ulcer is infected right now, or the infection has reached the bone. Also, an A1C of 12 or higher rules you out.

Placebo group: First, there is no sugar pill and no fake treatment. Instead, half get the graft plus standard care, and half get standard care alone.
How long: 2 weeks of screening, then 12 weeks of treatment.
Clinic visits: Weekly, and for the whole 12 weeks. So the ulcer gets measured and photographed every single week.
Phone calls: Not published on the public record. But you are seen in person weekly anyway.
Most invasive part: Basically, cleaning the wound, which can sting. Also, the graft is laid on top rather than stitched in.
Setting: Outpatient.
Where it runs: Monroe Biomedical Research, Monroe NC 28112.
Worth knowing: you must use the offloading boot or shoe they give you. In fact, that rule matters more to healing than the graft does.
Full study record: View on ClinicalTrials.gov →

The ELITE Study, a Placental Tissue Dressing

Cellution Biologics / Tissue graft

Similarly, this one tests a dried placental tissue dressing against standard wound care alone. It is a late stage study, so the product is already in use and is being measured properly.

Late stage, already approved Recruiting

Est. about $100 per visit. Ask the site for the total number of visits.

Check eligibility →

More details

Why researchers are excited: it is a phase 4 study, which means it is testing something already on the market rather than something brand new.

Who this study is looking for

Adults 18 and older with type 1 or type 2 diabetes
Also, A1C under 12
Besides that, A foot ulcer open for at least 4 weeks, about 0.7 to 20 square centimetres
Finally, willing to use the offloading boot and come to weekly visits

Probably not a fit if: the ulcer is infected, has reached the bone, or you are on dialysis or about to start.

Placebo group: No sham dressing. So one group gets the tissue dressing plus standard care, and the other gets standard care alone.
How long: About 12 weeks.
Clinic visits: Weekly. Notably, the wound is photographed and measured at each one.
Phone calls: Not published on the public record. So ask the clinic when you call.
Most invasive part: Generally, wound cleaning and dressing changes. Still, no surgery and no overnight stays.
Setting: Outpatient.
Where it runs: Site 007, Mooresville NC 28117, plus a site in Rocky Mount NC.
Heads up: if you have had hyperbaric oxygen or a similar tissue product in the last 30 days, you would need to wait.
Full study record: View on ClinicalTrials.gov →

CERAMENT G Registry, for Infection That Reached the Bone

BONESUPPORT AB / Device registry

This is for the harder case, where a foot ulcer has turned into a bone infection. Surgeons already use this bone paste, and the registry simply records how people do.

Registry, real world tracking Registry, not a drug trial

No study payment. It is a registry, not a paid trial.

See if you fit →

More details

Why researchers are excited: bone infection is the step before amputation, so tracking what actually works there matters more than almost anything on this page.

Who this study is looking for

Adults having surgery for a bone infection
Also, diabetic foot bone infection, chronic bone infection, or infection after a fracture
Besides that, your surgeon has already chosen to use this product
Finally, treated at OrthoCarolina in Charlotte

Probably not a fit if: your ulcer has not reached the bone. In that case, the two studies above are the better fit.

Placebo group: None at all. Instead, everybody gets the treatment their surgeon chose, and the registry just records what happens.
How long: Followed for up to three years.
Clinic visits: Simply your normal surgical follow up. So there are no extra study visits.
Phone calls: Not published on the public record. So ask the clinic when you call.
Most invasive part: Surgery, because the product is placed during an operation you were already having.
Setting: Outpatient.
Where it runs: OrthoCarolina, Charlotte NC 28207.
Be clear on this one: it does not pay, and it does not change your treatment. Instead, it records care you were getting anyway. We list it because it is the only one inside Charlotte.
Full study record: View on ClinicalTrials.gov →

Not sure which one fits you?

First, answer a few quick questions about the ulcer. Then we check you against all 3 studies. No account, no paperwork.

See if I may fit one of these studies →

✓ Takes just a few minutes✓ No cost, no obligation✓ You are never enrolled by checking

Why Foot Ulcer Research Matters Here in Charlotte

The part people do not say out loud

A sore on the foot does not sound serious, so it gets a bandage and a shrug. Then it is still there a month later. Next it smells different, and the shoe stops fitting. Nobody uses the word ulcer at first, though. Instead, they say it is just a blister. They say it will scab over. By the time the word amputation comes up, that small sore has been open for the better part of a year.

Why this is worth catching early

Gastonia, Rock Hill, Monroe, Kannapolis, Concord. Diabetes is common across all of them, and so are the wounds that come with it. The ELITE study record notes that foot ulcers affect up to 15 percent of people with diabetes at some point in their lives. However, the window that matters is small. Both studies here want an ulcer that has been open more than 4 weeks but less than a year, because after that it gets much harder to close.

So why do wounds go untreated around here?

It does not hurt. Nerve damage from diabetes takes the pain away first. So the warning sign that would send anyone else to a doctor never arrives.
The boot is the hard part. Offloading works, but it is uncomfortable and it is awkward at work. However, without it the wound stays open no matter what is put on top.
Wound care is scattered. Podiatry, primary care, and vascular are often three separate appointments. Meanwhile, the ulcer keeps going.
Weekly visits are hard to afford. Taking a half day every week for 12 weeks is a real cost. Notably, that is exactly what these studies pay for.
Waiting is expensive. An ulcer that reaches the bone becomes a surgical problem. In short, the cheapest week to treat it is this one.

Research is a care option, not a last resort

There is a saying in medicine that research is a care option rather than a last resort. Generally, that is the honest way to think about these. Neither wound study uses a sham, so the comparison group still gets real care. Instead of a sugar pill, the question is whether the graft beats good wound care on its own.

What you actually get

Weekly wound cleaning and dressing by a team watching only this
The ulcer measured and photographed every week, so change is caught early
A blood flow check on the leg and an A1C at screening
The offloading boot or shoe, fitted for you
No cost, and no insurance needed
Roughly $100 a visit for your time, and the visits are weekly

Add it up. Twelve weekly visits is more attention than most ulcers get in a year. Meanwhile, even the comparison group leaves with careful wound care and a fitted boot. So the question is not really whether research is worth a look. Instead, it is whether that sore can wait another month.

What Is Actually Being Tested for Foot Ulcers

Three approaches, and the one rule that beats all of them.

Placental and Birth Tissue Grafts

Both drug studies on this page test the same broad idea. A thin sheet made from donated birth tissue is placed on the ulcer each week. The theory is that it gives your own cells a scaffold to grow across. These products are already used in wound clinics. However, good head to head evidence is thinner than most people assume, which is exactly why these studies exist.

Standard of Care Is Not Nothing

In both studies the comparison group still gets real wound care. That means cleaning the wound, dressings, infection control, and offloading. So there is no sham and no sugar pill here. In short, the worst case is that you get careful weekly wound care at no cost, which is more attention than most ulcers get.

Offloading Is the Part That Actually Heals It

Every one of these studies requires you to use a boot, cast, or special shoe. That is not paperwork. Pressure is what keeps a foot ulcer open, so taking the pressure off is the treatment. Notably, both studies will exclude you if a past amputation left a deformity that makes proper offloading impossible. Basically, the graft is the experiment and the boot is the foundation.

When the Infection Reaches the Bone

An ulcer that gets down to bone is a different problem, and it is more serious. That is what the registry at OrthoCarolina tracks. It does not pay, and it does not change what your surgeon does. Still, bone infection is the step before amputation, so it is worth knowing the option exists.

Why Weekly Visits Are the Real Difference

Most study pages talk about pay per visit and leave it there. Here the visits are weekly for about 12 weeks, which is unusual. As a result, the wound is measured and photographed every week by someone whose job is to watch it. Meanwhile, a normal clinic might see the same ulcer once a month. That difference in attention is worth as much as the compensation.

Research Sites Near Charlotte

Not all of them run wound studies today. But sites add new studies all the time. So it is worth knowing what sits near you.

Atrium Health

Multiple Charlotte locations / 161+ active studies

Crohn’s, Heart Failure, COPD, Dementia, Type 2 Diabetes, Hypertension

Charlotte’s biggest health system. It is tied to Wake Forest University School of Medicine. Also, it runs far more trials than anyone else nearby.

Visit Website →

American Health Research Network

Ballantyne, NC 28277 / 25 to 30+ active studies

Asthma, COPD, Chronic Cough, Type 2 Diabetes

Led by Dr. Selwyn Spangenthal. It is the biggest private lung research group in Charlotte. Specifically, it has 4 offices: Charlotte, Rock Hill, Lake Norman, and Charleston.

Visit Website →

Monroe Biomedical Research

Monroe, NC / 17+ active studies

Asthma, COPD, Hypertension, Obesity, Ulcerative Colitis

Notably, one of the 5 busiest research sites in the country. Its 6,300 sq ft space can host overnight stays. It is also an SCRS Global Impact Partner.

Visit Website →

Clinical Research of Gastonia

Gastonia, NC / 11+ active studies

Asthma, COPD, Chronic Cough, Idiopathic Hypersomnia

Led by Dr. Anup Banerjee. Its 3,500 sq ft space sits next to CaroMont Regional Medical Center. Also, it has been running for over 10 years.

Visit Website →

OnSite Clinical Solutions

Ballantyne, NC 28277 / 10+ active studies

Ulcerative Colitis, Crohn’s, COPD, Heart Failure, Atopic Dermatitis

It works with Charlotte doctors in heart, gut, skin, nerve, and joint care. Besides, it runs studies from Phase I through Phase IV.

Visit Website →

Flourish Research

Matthews, NC 28105 / 4+ active studies

Alzheimer’s Disease, Early Alzheimer’s, Alzheimer’s-Related Psychosis

Led by Dr. M. Reza Bolouri. He has 20+ years in Alzheimer’s research. The site is an Alzheimer’s Center of Excellence. In fact, its network has finished 5,500+ trials.

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New Hope Clinical Research

SouthPark, NC 28211 / 4+ active studies

Major Depression, Schizophrenia, Bipolar Disorder

Led by Dr. Kurian Abraham. It runs Phase I through IV studies and has 30 beds for overnight stays. Its last FDA audit came back clean. Also, it has finished 200+ brain studies.

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Queen City Clinical Research

SouthPark, NC 28211 / 2+ active studies

Chronic Pain, Chronic Migraine, Osteoarthritis

Led by Dr. Leonardo Kapural, a former Cleveland Clinic professor. Notably, he has written 200+ journal articles. On top of that, many call this the biggest pain research site in the country.

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Novant Health

Multiple Charlotte locations / Several active studies

Cardiovascular Disease, Obesity, Hypertension

One of the biggest health systems in the Carolinas. Its Heart and Vascular Institute runs heart studies and sees a lot of patients.

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DLVSC

4 Charlotte-area offices / 1+ active studies

Eczema, Psoriasis, Rosacea

Led by Dr. Gilly Munavalli. This award-winning skin practice owns 50+ FDA-approved lasers and devices. Also, it has its own research team.

Visit Website →

DelRicht Research

South Charlotte, NC 28210 / 1+ active studies

Bipolar Disorder, Bipolar Depression

Part of a national network of mental health research sites. Currently, it runs the azetukalner bipolar depression trial in Charlotte. Previously, it ran other mental health studies.

Visit Website →

TMS of the Carolinas

South Charlotte, NC 28210 / 1+ active studies

Major Depression, Treatment-Resistant Depression

A specialty site for brain stimulation care. It runs the fast TMS study that packs 6 weeks into 2.

Visit Website →

What to Expect in a Wound Study

New to studies? Here is how one works, step by step.

Prescreening

First comes a short phone call or online form. It takes about 10 to 15 minutes. The staff check the basics, like how long the ulcer has been open. Then, if it fits, they book your first visit.

Screening Visit

Next the clinic measures and photographs the ulcer, checks blood flow in your leg, and runs an A1C. Also, they fit your offloading boot. There is then a two week run in on standard care.

Weekly Treatment

Then you come in once a week for about 12 weeks. The wound is cleaned, treated, measured, and photographed each time. Meanwhile, you keep using the boot between visits.

Closure and Follow-Up

Finally, the study ends when the ulcer closes or the 12 weeks are up. The clinic hands your results back to your own doctor. Also, you can stop at any point.

Diabetic Foot Ulcer Trial FAQs

Real answers about diabetic foot ulcer studies near Charlotte NC.

How much do foot ulcer studies pay in Charlotte?

Most pay around $100 per visit, and here the visits are weekly. So a 12 week study adds up differently than one with a visit every few months. However, the registry at OrthoCarolina does not pay at all, because it only records care you were already having. The clinic gives you the full schedule before you agree to anything.

Will I get a placebo instead of real treatment?

No, and this is the best part of wound studies. Neither study uses a sham dressing or a sugar pill. Instead, one group gets the tissue graft plus full standard wound care, and the other gets full standard wound care alone. So the worst case is careful weekly wound care at no cost.

How long does my ulcer need to have been open?

At least 4 weeks, and generally less than a year. That window exists because a brand new sore may still close on its own. Meanwhile, a wound open longer than a year behaves differently. So if yours is around a month old and not improving, this is the moment to ask.

What if my ulcer is infected?

Then you would not be able to join right now. Both studies exclude an ulcer that is infected, and both exclude infection that has reached the bone. However, that is a treatment issue rather than a permanent no. Get the infection cleared, and you may be able to screen afterward.

What is offloading, and do I have to do it?

Offloading means taking your weight off the wound with a boot, a cast, or a special shoe. Yes, it is required, and the study provides it. In fact, it does more for healing than anything applied on top. So if you are not willing to wear it, these studies are not a good fit.

Do I need insurance?

No. The study treatment, the weekly wound care, and the offloading device cost you nothing. Also, no insurance is needed to take part. That matters here, because weekly wound care is expensive to keep up otherwise.

What does my A1C need to be?

Under 12 for both wound studies. That is a fairly wide door, and it is higher than many diabetes studies allow. So poorly controlled blood sugar does not automatically rule you out. The clinic checks it at screening.

What is the study on bone infection?

It is a registry at OrthoCarolina in Charlotte, for people whose infection has reached the bone. Your surgeon uses a bone paste during an operation you were already having, and the registry records how you do. However, it does not pay and it does not change your treatment. We list it because it is the only one inside Charlotte itself.

Can I stay with my own doctor?

Yes. These studies add care rather than replace it. Your podiatrist or primary care doctor stays in charge of everything else. Also, the study clinic sends results back so your own doctor keeps the full picture.

Where can I get wound care near Charlotte NC?

Atrium Health and Novant Health both run wound care centers across the metro. Also, OrthoCarolina handles the surgical end when an infection reaches the bone. Your primary care doctor can refer you to any of them. Meanwhile, ask specifically about offloading, because that is the part most often skipped.

Ready to Explore a Study?

Check your eligibility, or just reach out to our Charlotte team. No pressure. Also, no sales pitch.

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← Back to All Clinical Trials

Sources

Study details and site status verified against ClinicalTrials.gov on August 15, 2026. Study availability and criteria change; the research clinic confirms everything before you enroll.

See which foot ulcer study you qualify for →