Columbia, SC
Clinical trials in Columbia, and whether you qualify.
Two ways to start: check your eligibility for every study in the Midlands in one go, or browse the 86 conditions we screen for. Both are free.
Every condition we can match you to
Nine groups, 86 conditions. Tap one to open it. Everyday words work here.
Everyday words work. Try “sugar”, “snoring”, “bald spots”.
We do not have a study for that one right now.
Tell us what you have and we will keep looking for you around Columbia.
See what I qualify for →
Weight, blood sugar & hormones
10 conditions
Weight, blood sugar & hormones
10 conditions
Weight, blood sugar and the thyroid all get checked by the same studies, so one form covers the lot.
Weight loss
Trouble losing weight, or told you are obese
Type 2 diabetes
High blood sugar, high A1C, on metformin
Type 1 diabetes
Diagnosed young, on insulin
Borderline blood sugar
Prediabetes, or told you have metabolic syndrome
Losing muscle on a weight loss shot
Muscle wasting while on a GLP-1, sarcopenia
A wound on the foot that will not heal
Diabetic foot ulcer
PCOS
Irregular periods, cysts on the ovaries
Underactive thyroid
Tired, cold, gaining weight, hypothyroidism
Overactive thyroid
Racing heart, weight loss, jitteriness, Graves’
Bulging or painful eyes
Eye changes caused by a thyroid problem
Heart, blood pressure & circulation
10 conditions
Heart, blood pressure & circulation
10 conditions
Heart, blood pressure and cholesterol studies almost always run the same tests, so one form reaches all of them.
High blood pressure
Also called hypertension
High cholesterol
High LDL, triglycerides, on a statin
Heart failure
Breathless, swollen ankles, a weak pumping heart
Blocked arteries
Chest pain, a stent, a bypass, coronary artery disease
Stroke
A stroke, or a mini stroke called a TIA
Irregular heartbeat
Atrial fibrillation, a fluttering or racing heart
Cramping legs when you walk
Peripheral artery disease
Blood clots
A clot in the leg or lung, DVT or PE
A leaky or narrowed heart valve
Aortic stenosis, valve disease
High pressure in the lungs
Pulmonary hypertension
Kidneys, liver & blood
9 conditions
Kidneys, liver & blood
9 conditions
Bloodwork is what decides these studies, so the more of your recent numbers you can tell us, the better the match.
Fatty liver disease
Fat in the liver, NASH or MASH
Kidney disease
Failing kidneys, on dialysis, low eGFR
Protein or blood in the urine
IgA nephropathy, FSGS, membranous, polycystic kidneys
Low iron or low blood count
Anemia, iron deficiency
Sickle cell disease
Pain crises, inherited from birth
A bleeding disorder
Hemophilia, bruising and bleeding easily
Hepatitis B or C
A liver infection that will not clear
Primary biliary cholangitis
Itching and fatigue from a bile duct condition
High potassium
Hyperkalemia, or another electrolyte problem
Breathing & sleep
11 conditions
Breathing & sleep
11 conditions
This is the deepest group in Columbia by a distance, the sleep studies in particular. Tell us everything about your breathing and your nights.
Sleep apnea
Loud snoring, waking up tired, a CPAP machine
Asthma
Wheezing, an inhaler, attacks
COPD
Emphysema, chronic bronchitis, breathless from smoking
Cannot sleep
Insomnia that has lasted months
Restless legs or sudden sleep attacks
Restless legs, narcolepsy
Sleepy all day, every day
Idiopathic hypersomnia
Blocked nose that will not clear
Nasal polyps, chronic sinus trouble
A cough that will not go
Chronic cough lasting more than eight weeks
Scarred lungs
Pulmonary fibrosis, IPF, interstitial lung disease
Bronchiectasis
Repeated chest infections, coughing up phlegm
Cystic fibrosis
Diagnosed in childhood, thick mucus
Joints, autoimmune & psoriasis
11 conditions
Joints, autoimmune & psoriasis
11 conditions
These overlap more than most people expect, and the same study often accepts two or three of them. List everything you have been told you have.
Psoriasis
Thick, scaly, flaking patches on skin or scalp
Lupus
Fatigue, joint pain, rashes that flare and fade
Rheumatoid arthritis
Swollen, stiff joints on both sides of the body
Painful lumps under the skin
Boils in the armpits or groin, hidradenitis suppurativa
Psoriatic arthritis
Joint pain along with psoriasis
Back and spine pain
Stiffness worse in the morning, ankylosing spondylitis
Dry eyes and dry mouth
Persistent dryness, Sjögren’s
Kidney trouble from lupus
Lupus nephritis, protein in the urine
Muscle weakness that gets worse through the day
Myasthenia gravis, droopy eyelids, double vision
Tight, hardening skin
Scleroderma, systemic sclerosis
Inflamed blood vessels
Vasculitis, polymyalgia rheumatica, giant cell arteritis
Stomach & gut
7 conditions
Stomach & gut
7 conditions
If your day gets planned around the nearest bathroom, this is the group. One form covers all seven.
Ulcerative colitis
Urgent, bloody diarrhea and cramping
Crohn’s disease
Belly pain, diarrhea, weight loss
IBS
Cramping, bloating, unpredictable bathroom trips
Celiac disease
Gluten makes you sick
Food gets stuck when you swallow
Trouble swallowing, EoE
Heartburn or a slow stomach
Reflux, GERD, gastroparesis
Constipation that will not shift
Chronic constipation
Skin, hair & appearance
9 conditions
Skin, hair & appearance
9 conditions
Itch studies and appearance studies often run at the same site, and many take more than one of these at once.
Eczema
Itchy, dry, inflamed skin, atopic dermatitis
Chronic hives
Welts that keep coming back for months
Itching that will not stop
Chronic pruritus, prurigo, itchy hard bumps
Hair loss in patches
Bald spots on the scalp, beard or brows, alopecia areata
White patches of skin
Skin losing its color, vitiligo
Acne
Persistent breakouts that treatments have not fixed
Rosacea
Facial redness, flushing, visible vessels
Rough spots from sun damage
Actinic keratosis, skin lesions
Lines and wrinkles
Cosmetic and aesthetic studies
Pain, nerves & bones
11 conditions
Pain, nerves & bones
11 conditions
Pain gets labeled a dozen different ways and the labels overlap. Tell us where it hurts and how long it has hurt.
Gout
Sudden severe pain, often in the big toe
Worn out joints
Osteoarthritis in the knee, hip or hands
Migraine
Headaches with light sensitivity or nausea
Pain that has lasted months
Chronic pain anywhere in the body
Chronic low back pain
Back pain that has lasted more than three months
Numbness or tingling in the feet
Peripheral neuropathy
Burning nerve pain
Neuropathic pain, often from diabetes
Widespread aching and fatigue
Fibromyalgia
Thin or broken bones
Osteoporosis, a fracture from a small fall
A painful shoulder, elbow or tendon
Tendinopathy, a sports injury
Pain after an operation
Pain after surgery, or sudden pain
Mental health & brain
8 conditions
Mental health & brain
8 conditions
What has already been tried and not worked is usually what decides which study fits. List every medication, including the ones that failed.
Depression
Feeling flat, empty, or unable to enjoy things you used to
Anxiety
Constant worry you cannot switch off
Schizophrenia
Hearing or seeing things others do not
Bipolar disorder
Swings between very high and very low periods
PTSD
Flashbacks or nightmares after something traumatic
ADHD
Trouble focusing, restlessness, disorganization
Drinking more than you want to
Alcohol use disorder
Trouble with opioids or other substances
Opioid or substance use disorder
Why people take part
You can make a difference
People join for two reasons. Their own health, and everyone who needs the treatment later. You can join for either one.
Someone is watching your health closely
A study team sees you on a set schedule. They check your blood, your weight, your blood pressure. Catching things early is their job.
Medicine the pharmacy does not have yet
Some studies test medicine years before it reaches a pharmacy. The visits, the lab work and the medicine cost you nothing.
Paid for your time
Most Columbia visits pay 25 to 250 dollars. You see the number in writing first.
The next person
Every medicine in your cabinet exists because someone volunteered first. You would be doing that for the next person.
It matters more here than most places
South Carolina has one of the highest diabetes rates in the country. Nearly 14 in 100 adults have it. More than a third of adults are living with obesity. Those are the conditions Midlands clinics need people for most. The studies will not finish without people from here.
Before you start
What it means to take part in a study
Clinical trials test new medicine before a doctor can prescribe it. Volunteers make that possible.
It costs you nothing
No insurance needed. The visits, the tests and the medicine are all paid for by the study.
You get paid for your time
Most Columbia visits pay 25 to 250 dollars. You see the number in writing before you agree to anything.
Someone checks it first
The Food and Drug Administration regulates trials. An independent board approves every study before anyone joins.
Before you say yes
You might get a placebo.
Ask the clinic your odds.
Not every study fits.
New ones open most months. One form covers them all.
You can stop any time.
Any reason, no penalty.
It does not replace your doctor.
Keep seeing them. In an emergency call 911.
Not sure which study is right for you?
Answer a few questionsCompensation
Paid clinical trials near Columbia, SC
How the money works. Most people are never told, so they assume the worst.
01
The first conversation is free
A phone call or a short visit where the clinic explains the study and answers your questions. Nobody is paid for that. You can stop right there.
02
The first real visit is paid
This one is longer. Paperwork, blood work, blood pressure. You are paid for showing up to it.
03
It pays for your time, not the treatment
Hours off work, gas, parking, childcare, the drive. It is never a fee for taking medicine.
04
An independent board sets the amount
The same medical board that approves the study approves the payment. The clinic cannot raise it.
05
It arrives after each visit
Usually a prepaid card or a check, a few weeks after each visit.
Everything here is within an hour of you
Ten independent research clinics across the Midlands. Tether runs none of them.
86
conditions we cover
10
independent research clinics
~2 hrs
to hear back from us
14
towns inside an hour
Research in the Midlands
Why Columbia is a good place to look
Ten independent clinics, all inside an hour, in a town that is not picked over.
A full research bench for a town this size
Columbia has all four kinds of research center. A university. A big hospital system. A national research company. And independent specialists. Most towns this size have one or two.
Sleep medicine is the deep end here
Bogan Sleep Consultants has run sleep studies here for decades. If your trouble is snoring, apnea, insomnia or restless legs, Columbia is a good place to look.
You are not competing with a city of two million
Big city clinics fill up fast. Columbia clinics take people over a longer stretch, so fewer people chase the same spots.
An hour covers the whole thing
Richland, Lexington, Kershaw, Fairfield and Newberry counties all sit inside an hour of downtown. So do Sumter and Orangeburg. Weekly visits are doable when the drive is short.
Veterans have a local door
The Dorn VA Medical Center on Garners Ferry Road runs its own research, including heart and liver studies. For many Midlands veterans that is the easiest place to ask.
Where the studies happen
The clinics running Columbia’s studies
These are the hospitals and clinics that run the studies. Tether is not one of them and runs none of its own.
Prisma Health Richland Hospital
Downtown Columbia · 37+ active studies
Cancer, blood disorders, broad hospital research
The biggest research operation in the Columbia area by a wide margin.
Visit website →
Prisma Health Midlands Cardiovascular
Richland Medical Park · 4+ active studies
Cardiovascular disease, heart failure, cholesterol
Where cholesterol, blood pressure and heart studies happen in Columbia.
Visit website →
Velocity Clinical Research, Columbia
Columbia · Multiple active studies
COPD, skin conditions, vaccines, metabolic
Part of one of the biggest research networks in the country. Runs the very large studies.
Visit website →
University of South Carolina
Columbia · 27+ active studies
Stroke recovery, physical activity, community health
Runs federally funded health studies across the Midlands, from stroke recovery to prevention.
Visit website →
Wm. Jennings Bryan Dorn VA Medical Center
Garners Ferry Road, Columbia · 2+ active studies
Atherosclerosis, liver disease
Runs its own heart and liver studies. Often the first door for veterans.
Visit website →
Bogan Sleep Consultants
Columbia · 7+ active studies
Narcolepsy, sleep apnea, sleep disorders
One of the best known independent sleep research centers in the Southeast.
Show the other four clinics
Columbia Dermatology & Aesthetics
Columbia · 4+ active studies
Hidradenitis suppurativa, psoriasis, obesity
A skin practice with a busy research department.
Objective Health, Columbia
Columbia · 2+ active studies
Celiac disease, fatty liver disease
Part of the Objective Health network. Digestive and liver studies.
Columbia Gastroenterology Associates
Columbia · Active studies
Digestive conditions
A digestive health practice that takes part in stomach and gut studies.
Prisma Health Children’s Hospital, Midlands
Columbia · 4+ active studies
Pediatric growth, cystic fibrosis
Where children’s research happens in the Midlands.
Visit website →Study counts come from ClinicalTrials.gov and change month to month. Fill in one form and we tell you which clinic to call.
Common questions
Questions people ask before they start
If yours is not here, ask us. We answer in writing.
Do you get paid for clinical trials in Columbia SC?
Yes, in almost every case. The payment is for your time and travel, not for the treatment. Most visits pay somewhere between 25 and 250 dollars depending on the study. The exact number is written down for you before you agree to anything.
Does it cost anything to take part?
No. The visits, the tests and the medicine are all paid for by the company running the study. Tether is free and never charges you a thing.
Do I need health insurance?
No. A study does not bill your insurance for anything to do with the study, and you can take part with no coverage at all.
Will I get a placebo?
You might. Many studies compare a new treatment against an inactive one so the results mean something. Not every study uses a placebo. In some, everybody gets the real treatment eventually. Ask the clinic what your odds are before you start. They have to tell you.
Can I leave a study after I start?
Yes. At any time, for any reason. You do not owe anyone an explanation and there is no penalty.
What if there is nothing for my condition right now?
It happens, and we will tell you straight rather than sit on your details. New studies open in the Midlands every month. We keep you on the list for your condition and write to you when one opens up.
How do I know a study is legitimate?
Every study has to be read and approved by an independent medical board before it can accept a single person. A real clinic tells you who is paying for the study, gives you a written document explaining all of it, never asks you for money, and never pushes you to decide on the spot.
Do I have to go to Columbia, or are there sites closer to me?
Most of the Midlands clinics are in Columbia, West Columbia, Cayce or Lexington. Almost everything on this page is inside an hour’s drive of the city. When we email you back we say exactly which clinic is running each study and where it is, so you can rule out anything too far before you pick up the phone.
How long until I hear back?
Within an hour or two you get an email listing the studies you may be able to join, with the phone number for each clinic.
Who we are
Built in the Carolinas, by one person
This is my grandfather. Trying to work out which studies he could actually get into is why this site exists.
We are not a clinic.
The studies are run by independent clinics around Columbia.
You never pay us anything.
Not now, not later.
How we make money
We don’t. Tether is a nonprofit, and no clinic pays us for sending you their way.
Your information
Your health information is held securely and never sold. Not to anyone, ever.
Tether Research Group is an independent directory of clinical trials around Columbia. We are not a healthcare provider and we do not give medical advice.