The Iowa Oncology Research Association (IORA) was established by a group of local physicians in 1978 as a non-profit corporation for the purpose of conducting clinical cancer research and providing state-of-the-art cancer treatment to the citizens of Central Iowa. Over the past several years the IORA has expanded its service area and developed into a multidisciplinary consortium of nine Iowa hospitals, 18 gynecologic, medical, pediatric, radiation, and surgical oncology practices, and 72 physicians providing coverage in 59 of Iowa's 99 counties.

In addition to the operations office in Des Moines, the IORA has four affiliate sites located in Ames, Council Bluffs, Mason City and Ottumwa, and a pediatric component located at the Blank Children's Hospital in Des Moines. The IORA has been a principal member of the North Central Cancer Treatment Group (NCCTG) since 1979 and has secondary Research Base relationships with the Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG), the National Surgical Adjuvant Breast and Bowel Project (NSABP), the Gynecology Oncology Group (GOG), the Comprehensive Cancer Center at Wake Forest University (CCCWFU), and the Children's Oncology Group (COG). The IORA also actively participates in other non-member Research Base studies through the Cancer Trials Support Unit (CTSU). At any given time the IORA will have 80 to 100 clinical trials available in the areas of cancer treatment, control and prevention.

Under the leadership of Robert J. Behrens, MD, Principal Investigator, the IORA is staffed by eight clinical research associates in the Des Moines Operations Office, two pediatric clinical research associates at Blank Children's Hospital, three clinical research associates in Ames, two clinical research associates in Mason City, and one clinical research associate each in Council Bluffs and Ottumwa.