Dr. Felix Feng is a translational scientist with a broad interest in the biology and genomics of prostate cancer.  He is a radiation oncologist who specializes in the treatment of prostate cancer.  As a physician-scientist, Dr. Feng studies how to improve outcomes for patients with prostate cancer. His research interests include the identification of biomarkers or artificial intelligence (AI) algorithms that predict treatment response or resistance in prostate cancer and the development of rational approaches of targeted treatment for therapy-resistant disease. He is nationally known for his approaches of using molecular biomarkers to guide or personalize therapy for prostate cancer.

Quite remarkably, Dr. Feng has made sentinel observations across the prostate cancer disease spectrum, from very early stage localized prostate cancer to widely advanced hormonally resistant metastatic disease, and involving multiple modalities, including surgery, radiation therapy, and systemic therapy including androgen signaling inhibition, DNA Damage Repair inhibitors, Immunotherapy and radioimmunotherapy.

As remarkable as his broad scientific interests is Dr. Feng’s collaborative and team-building approach to science. He has established strong collaborations across North America, in Europe, Asia and Australia. The hallmark of these collaborations are his broad vision, inclusion, and generosity.  Dr. Feng is a consummate mentor, advancing the careers not only of trainees and early career faculty in his lab, but in every research endeavor he is involved with, often cutting across departmental and discipline boundaries. Dr. Feng is also known for his impish sense of humor – one never quite knows whether that sparkle in his eye reflects a brilliant new translational project that is being hatched, or a practical joke (or self-deprecating joke) that he is about to deliver. 

Dr. Feng earned his medical degree at Washington University School of Medicine, where he received awards for his research and academic achievements. He completed a residency and fellowship in radiation oncology at the University of Michigan. After completing his fellowship, Feng joined the University of Michigan faculty. In addition to directing the translational genomics division there, he co-led the multidisciplinary clinic for prostate cancer patients and directed the radiation oncology department's genitourinary cancer program. He joined the University of California San Francisco in 2016. At UCSF, Dr. Feng serves as Vice Chair for Translational Research, Department of Radiation Oncology.  

Reflecting his broad interests, in addition to his role as a Professor of Radiation Oncology, he also holds appointments as Professor of Urology, and Professor of Medicine.  Dr. Feng serves as co-leader of the UCSF Helen Diller Family Comprehensive Cancer Center’s (HDFCCC) Prostate Cancer Program and as Associate Director of Translational Science in the HDFCCC. Dr. Feng is co-PI of UCSF’s Prostate Cancer SPORE award and Director of the Benioff Initiative for Prostate Cancer Research. On a national level, Dr. Feng chaired the Genitourinary Cancer Committee for the NRG Oncology Group and served on the NCI Genitourinary Cancer Steering Committee.

To honor Dr. Feng and his leadership in translational research in prostate cancer, an endowed Young Investigator Award (YIA) in Prostate Cancer Translational Science in honor of Dr. Felix Feng has been established. Once funded, this named YIA will support an early career investigator in prostate cancer research in perpetuity. We invite you to give to honor Dr. Feng and his work and dedication to the oncology community.

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