CHARLOTTE, NC
Actinic Keratosis Clinical Trials
No sun damage study is enrolling near Charlotte NC, and we would rather say so plainly. However, three run in South Carolina, and two of those are within about an hour and forty minutes. Compensation is provided for eligible participants once one opens here.
0
Open Near Charlotte
3
Open in South Carolina
+/- $100
Per Visit
New here? Read how this page works
First, two numbers decide whether any of these will take you, and they are how many patches you have and how thick they are. So here is the order to work through.
- Ask a dermatologist to count and grade your patches. Because these studies want an exact number in an exact sized area, and the thicker grade 3 ones do not qualify.
- Ask specifically about your scalp, ears and lower lip. Notably, those three are the most commonly missed spots at an ordinary appointment.
- Ask whether field treatment fits you better than spot freezing. In fact, freezing treats what can be seen, while field treatment covers the damaged skin around it.
- Finally, tap the button. Then we keep your details on file and call you when a study opens near you.
Of course, checking never signs you up for anything. You are only seeing where you might fit.
The 3 Nearest Studies to Charlotte
None runs in this metro. However, two are at Greenville, about an hour and forty minutes away.
The three nearest studies, all in South Carolina
Nothing runs in this metro. However, Greenville is about an hour and forty minutes away, and two of these run there.
Light Treatment for the Forearms
Sun Pharma / Late stage light treatment
A liquid is put on the rough patches, left to soak in, then a blue light is shone on the area. The liquid makes the abnormal cells sensitive to that light, so the light destroys them. This study treats the forearms specifically. Notably, it wants exactly four to eight lesions in one small patch of skin. Two sites run it, at Greenville and at Anderson.
Payment is not published.
Get on the list →More details
Why researchers are excited: the forearms are one of the hardest areas to clear, and they are where sun damage shows most in people who have worked outdoors. Meanwhile, most studies treat the face and scalp instead.
Who this study is looking for
- Exactly 4 to 8 rough patches in one treatment area
- Also, those patches graded mild to moderate, which is grade 1 or 2
- Besides that, all within a single area about 25 square centimetres
- Finally, forearm involvement specifically
Probably not a fit if: thicker, harder lesions rule you out. Grade 3 patches do not qualify, and neither do more than eight in the area. Also, other skin conditions in the treatment area exclude you.
- Placebo group: Yes, in the sense that some people get a dummy liquid before the same light treatment.
- How long: Not published on the public record in full.
- Clinic visits: Not published on the public record.
- Phone calls: Not published on the public record.
- Most invasive part: The light treatment stings, and the skin reacts hard afterwards. Expect redness, crusting and peeling for a week or two. Notably, that reaction is the treatment working rather than a side effect going wrong.
- Setting: Outpatient.
- Where it runs: Palmetto Clinical Trial Services, Greenville SC 29615; and Anderson SC 29621.
- Drive from Charlotte: Greenville is about 100 miles south west, so roughly an hour and forty minutes on I-85.
- The lesion count is exact. Four to eight, no more and no fewer, in one small area. So a count done at your own clinic first will tell you quickly whether it is worth the drive.
- Full study record: View on ClinicalTrials.gov →
The Same Light Treatment, for Face or Scalp
Sun Pharma / Late stage light treatment
This is the sister study to the one above, treating the face or the bald scalp instead. The method is the same, which is a liquid, a soak in period, then blue light. However, this one compares four groups, testing different soak in times. So how long the liquid sits on your skin is part of what is being tested. It runs at Greenville only.
Payment is not published.
Get on the list →More details
Why researchers are excited: how long the liquid is left on changes both how well it works and how much it stings. Meanwhile, getting that balance right is what makes the treatment tolerable.
Who this study is looking for
- Rough sun damaged patches on the face or the bald scalp
- Also, A lesion count within the study’s range, so ask for the exact numbers
- Besides that, patches graded mild to moderate
- Finally, able to attend Greenville for the treatment visits
Probably not a fit if: thicker grade 3 lesions rule you out. Also, other active skin conditions in the treatment area. Notably, this one has no Anderson site, unlike its sister study.
- Placebo group: Four groups are compared, differing by drug and by soak in time.
- How long: Not published on the public record in full.
- Clinic visits: Not published on the public record.
- Phone calls: Not published on the public record.
- Most invasive part: Stinging during the light, then a week or two of crusting and peeling. On the face that is visible, so plan the timing around your commitments.
- Setting: Outpatient.
- Where it runs: Palmetto Clinical Trial Services, Greenville SC 29615.
- Drive from Charlotte: Greenville is about 100 miles south west, so roughly an hour and forty minutes on I-85.
- Ask which group you would be in. The soak in times differ between arms, and that changes both the discomfort and the result.
- Full study record: View on ClinicalTrials.gov →
A Short Study With No Dummy and No Light
Observational study / 57 days
This one simply follows people using tirbanibulin, a cream applied for a few days. Nothing is assigned and there is no dummy anywhere in it. So it is surveys and photographs rather than an experiment. Notably, it runs 57 days, which is by far the shortest commitment on this page. The site is at Charleston.
Payment is not published.
Get on the list →More details
Why researchers are excited: the newer creams ask for only a few days of treatment rather than weeks. Meanwhile, whether people actually finish them in real life is the open question.
Who this study is looking for
- Actinic keratosis being treated with tirbanibulin
- Also, willing to complete surveys and be photographed
- Besides that, able to attend the site at Charleston
- Finally, treatment prescribed in the normal way by a doctor
Probably not a fit if: this follows treatment rather than providing it. So you need the prescription arranged first. Also, it is not a fit if you want the treatment itself paid for.
- Placebo group: None at all. Nothing is assigned, because researchers only watch and record.
- How long: 57 days. That is the shortest study on this page by a wide margin.
- Clinic visits: Not published on the public record.
- Phone calls: Not published on the public record.
- Most invasive part: Nothing beyond your normal treatment. So this is surveys and photographs rather than procedures.
- Setting: Outpatient.
- Where it runs: Dermatology and Laser Center of Charleston, Charleston SC 29414.
- Drive from Charlotte: Charleston is about 200 miles south east, so roughly three and a quarter hours.
- Confirm it is still enrolling. The main completion date is October 2026, so this one may close sooner than the others.
- Full study record: View on ClinicalTrials.gov →
Not sure which one fits you?
First, answer a few quick health questions. Then we keep them on file. Finally, we call you when a study opens near Charlotte. No account, no paperwork.
See if I may fit one of these studies →What Is Actually Changing in Sun Damaged Skin
Treatment has moved from freezing spots one by one to treating the whole damaged area at once.
What These Rough Patches Actually Are
They are small scaly patches caused by years of sun, usually on the face, scalp, ears, forearms and the backs of the hands. Often you feel them before you see them, because the texture changes first. So running a hand over your scalp is a better check than looking in a mirror. Notably, they are not cancer, but they sit on the road toward it.
Why They Are Treated At All
A share of them can turn into squamous cell skin cancer if left. Nobody can tell you which ones, and that is exactly the point. So treating them is about removing the risk rather than fixing a symptom. Meanwhile, they are far easier to treat than the cancer they can become.
Freezing Treats Spots, Not the Field
Liquid nitrogen freezes off the patches your doctor can see. However, the skin around them is usually just as sun damaged, and it holds the ones not visible yet. So field treatment covers the whole area rather than the individual spots. In fact, that shift is the single biggest change in how this is managed.
The Field Treatments and How They Differ
Fluorouracil cream runs two to four weeks and reacts strongly. Imiquimod works by waking up your immune system in the area. Tirbanibulin is newer and takes only five days. Meanwhile, light treatment works in a clinic visit rather than at home, which suits people who would not finish a course of cream.
The Healing Looks Alarming, and That Is Expected
Whichever you use, the treated area goes red, crusts and peels. It can look worse than what you started with for a week or two. So plan the timing around work and social commitments rather than being surprised. Notably, people who are not warned about this often stop halfway, which wastes the whole course.
Light Treatment in Plain Words
A liquid is applied, left to soak into the abnormal cells, then a blue light is shone on the area. The light activates the liquid and destroys those cells. So the whole thing happens in the clinic in one appointment. However, it stings during the light, and how long the liquid is left on changes both the sting and the result.
Grade Decides Which Studies Take You
Lesions are graded roughly one to three, from slightly rough to thick and hard. Studies commonly want grade one or two, and exclude the thicker ones. So ask your dermatologist to grade yours and to count them. In fact, both studies on this page gate on an exact count in an exact sized area.
Where They Appear Tells You Something
The scalp matters in anyone who has thinned on top, because it takes constant sun. The ears and lower lip are commonly missed entirely at ordinary appointments. So ask for those to be checked specifically. Meanwhile, the forearms and hands show the damage of a working life outdoors.
Why Nothing Is Open in Either Metro
The studies here cluster at dermatology practices that have built research operations, and in South Carolina those sit at Greenville, Anderson and Charleston. So neither metro currently has one on the roster. However, Greenville is roughly an hour and forty minutes from both cities, which is closer than most gaps on our site. Meanwhile, a large study for Veterans does not publish its site list at all, and the VA hospitals serving both metros could be on it.
Sun Damage Help Near You
Ask a dermatologist to count and grade your patches, because studies gate on both numbers. Also, ask specifically about your scalp, ears and lower lip. Finally, ask whether field treatment rather than spot freezing is the better fit for you. Meanwhile, join the list and we will call you when a study opens here.
Research Sites Near Charlotte
Nothing runs in this metro, while the nearest sites are at Greenville, Anderson and Charleston. 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.
Visit Website →
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.
Visit Website →
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.
Visit Website →
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.
Visit Website →
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 Skin Study
New to studies? Here is how one works, step by step.
01
Prescreening
First comes a short phone call or online form. Also, it takes about 10 to 15 minutes. The staff check whether you might fit. Then they tell you what is open.
02
Screening Visit
Next the clinic runs the tests that decide it, which usually means blood work. Also, they go through the consent form line by line, and you can bring somebody with you.
03
Treatment Period
Then the study begins. So you take the study drug or the placebo on the agreed schedule. Meanwhile, your own doctor keeps managing everything else.
04
Follow-Up
Finally, there is a check in period at the end. Also, your own doctor gets the results, and you can stop at any point without affecting your care.
Actinic Keratosis Trial FAQs
Real answers about sun damage studies near Charlotte NC.
Is there a study for this near Charlotte?
No, and we will not pretend otherwise. However, three run in South Carolina, and two of those are at Greenville about an hour and forty minutes away. Both Greenville studies use a light treatment, one for the forearms and one for the face or scalp. Meanwhile, the third is at Charleston, lasts only 57 days, and has no dummy in it at all.
What actually are these rough patches?
They are small scaly patches caused by years of sun, and you usually feel them before you see them. They turn up on the face, scalp, ears, forearms and the backs of the hands. So running a hand over your scalp is a better check than looking in a mirror. Notably, they are not cancer, but they sit on the road toward it.
Do they really need treating?
Yes, and the reason is the uncertainty rather than the patch itself. A share of them can turn into squamous cell skin cancer if left alone. However, nobody can tell you which ones will, and that is exactly the point. So treating them removes a risk, and they are far easier to treat than the cancer they can become.
What is the difference between freezing and field treatment?
Freezing removes the patches your doctor can see, one at a time. However, the skin around them is usually just as sun damaged and holds the ones not visible yet. So field treatment covers the whole area rather than the individual spots. In fact, that shift is the biggest change in how this is managed.
What is the light treatment like?
A liquid is applied and left to soak into the abnormal cells, then a blue light is shone on the area. The light activates the liquid, which destroys those cells. So it happens in one clinic appointment rather than weeks of cream at home. However, it stings during the light, and the skin crusts and peels for a week or two afterwards.
Will my face look bad afterwards?
For a week or two, yes, and you should plan around that rather than be surprised. Whichever treatment you use, the area goes red, crusts and peels before it looks better. Notably, people who are not warned often stop halfway, which wastes the whole course. So ask to see photographs of what week one looks like before you agree.
Why would I be turned away?
Usually the count or the grade. These studies want an exact number of patches, of a particular thickness, in one small area. So thicker grade 3 lesions do not qualify, and neither does having too many or too few. Also, a count done at your own clinic first tells you quickly whether the drive is worth it.
Does it cost anything to join the list?
No. There is no cost, and no insurance is needed. Tether is a nonprofit list, so we do not run studies and we are not paid to send you anywhere. Also, being on the list never enrolls anyone in anything. You would always call the clinic yourself.
Where can I get help near Charlotte NC?
Atrium Health and Novant Health both run skin services across the metro, and several private dermatology practices treat sun damage. Also, ask for a full skin check rather than a look at one patch, and ask about your scalp, ears and lower lip specifically. Generally, your own doctor can refer you. Meanwhile, a count and grade is what any study will want first.
Ready to Explore a Study?
Check your eligibility, or just reach out to our Charlotte team. No pressure. Also, no sales pitch.
← Back to All Clinical TrialsSources
- Light treatment for the forearms, at Greenville and Anderson, ClinicalTrials.gov NCT07144852
- The same treatment for face or scalp, at Greenville, ClinicalTrials.gov NCT07144345
- CLEAR, following people using tirbanibulin, at Charleston, ClinicalTrials.gov NCT07657988
- A large study for Veterans whose site list is not published, ClinicalTrials.gov NCT05212246
Study details and per-site recruiting status verified against ClinicalTrials.gov on August 17, 2026. Four separate state level searches on this condition returned nothing; the South Carolina sites listed here were found only by sweeping individual cities one at a time. A large study for Veterans across seventeen VA medical centres does not publish its site list at all, so we cannot say whether the VA hospitals serving this region are on it. Study availability and criteria change; the research clinic confirms everything before you enroll.