I am a pulmonologist with interest in thoracic malignancies. As a fellowship trained interventional pulmonologist, I participate in staging, treatment and palliation of thoracic malignancies, while I also have direct access to safe tissue acquisition in a high-volume interventional pulmonology program. I have recently moved to Vanderbilt University from my prior institution, Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU). My primary research focus is on the biomarkers of malignant and non-malignant pleural effusion and pleural and lung carcinogenesis. Recently, I was PI on three translational projects related to malignant pleural effusion due to lung cancer. I am the founder of the PEAK-pleural fluid biorepository at VCU. Part of pleural fluid biorepository has been transferred to VUMC after completion and data and material use agreement and I am currently in the process of continuing my studies at VUMC, after obtaining appropriate study approval documents.