(Radio Iowa) – Hospitals across the state are partnering with the Iowa Cancer Consortium to create a new online clearinghouse for places in Iowa that offer clinical cancer trials. Kelly Sittig, the consortium’s executive director, says clinical trials are research studies that identify the best ways to prevent, detect, and treat cancer.

While there are many trials underway for a variety of cancer types and stages, Sittig says it can be challenging for a patient or their care team to find the right one. People do better when they get treatment close to home, she says, so it’s important to know clinical trials can be available across the state.

Find the database at: www.canceriowa.org/clinicaltrials.