Dr. Govindan’s main research focus is to understand genomic alterations in lung cancer. Working with the McDonnell Genome Institute at Washington University School of Medicine and with The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) project sponsored by the NCI, he has studied molecular alteration in lung adenocarcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma and small cell lung cancer. He is the co-chair of the lung cancer disease-working group for TCGA project. He led the efforts recently to identify the mechanisms of resistance to chemotherapy in patients with small cell lung cancer. His research work is supported by R01/U01/U54 grant mechanisms. In addition, he is leading the efforts to move personalized therapies in early stage and locally advanced lung cancer. He is overseeing a large multicenter study sponsored by the NCI to test the efficacy of erlotinib in early stage non-small cell lung cancer called ALCHEMIST trial that is being conducted in over 1000 sites in the U.S. As a full member of the Cancer Center Support Grant of Siteman Cancer Center, he co-leads the Solid Tumor Therapeutics Program for the Cancer Center. He is actively involved in training and mentoring students, residents, fellows and faculty members. He is the Principal Investigator for the NCI sponsored Paul Calabresi K12 training program.