I am a medical oncologist who specializes in treating patients with lung cancer. I want to provide care that is as individualized as possible. That means understanding as much as we can about the biology of the patient's cancer, as well as the goals and priorities of each patient, and then using this to select the best possible approach to treatment. The multidisciplinary treatment teams at The James work together to select, plan and carry out those treatments, and to support patients through this process on many levels. As a member of the Translational Therapeutics Program at the OSUCCC – James, my research is focused on understanding how the specific genetic background of each cancer affects their behaviors in patients, such as immune system evasion and response to treatments. My laboratory specifically focuses on the effects of mutations in the LKB1 gene (also known as STK11). Tumors with these mutations are difficult to treat because they do not respond to our best targeted drugs, such as EGFR and ALK inhibitors, and are also resistant to our best immunotherapy treatments. I hope to use a better understanding of these processes to develop novel and improved treatments that are guided by precise knowledge of the tumor biology. This is an incredible time to be involved in cancer research. Dozens of precision treatments have been developed in lung cancer over the past 20 years that have completely changed our approach to treating patients, and as a result, patient outcomes and survival continue to improve year after year. I am passionate about being part of the discovery process that fuels these advances in patient care and collaborating with fellow researchers to achieve our goal of a cancer-free world. At the OSUCCC – James, specialists from across all fields are available and eager to work together on projects to advance our understanding of cancer and improve patient care and outcomes. In particular, the Pelotonia Institute for Immuno-Oncology (PIIO) provides a focal point for integrating researchers who study better ways to harness the immune system to target cancer. The PIIO is made possible by an incredible level of community engagement and fundraising through Pelotonia, which brings together the greater Columbus and Ohio areas in support of cancer research. This level of community support is so special and is really unique to this institution. In addition to my clinical and research work, I serve as an assistant professor in the Division of Medical Oncology at The Ohio State University. I have also been published in numerous scientific journals, including JAMA, Cancer Research and Journal of Thoracic Oncology.