DURHAM, NC — In the latest piece of Spectrum News 1’s Asian Pacific American Heritage month series, we introduce you to a doctor who’s also got jokes.

His research is far from funny, but that doesn’t mean he can’t be.

What You Need To Know

  • Duke University researcher Dr. Yutian Feng says he’s hopeful for a prostate cancer treatment option in the clinical trial system within the next month or two

  • Feng is a stand-up comedian in his free time

  • Feng immigrated to the United States 10 years ago

“We’re hoping to have a treatment option for prostate cancer in the clinical trial system in the next month or two,” said Dr. Yutian Feng, a Duke University assistant professor.

Feng says he’s on the cusp of something extraordinary.

“This is something we’re very, very excited about. It’s a molecule that was developed here in this lab,” explained Feng.

The Duke professor in Radiology has been working to develop a prostate cancer treatment for the last several years. It focuses on a radiopharmaceutical that he developed. It’s also named after him.

“My initials, YF, and it’s the second molecule that I have developed… it’s my brain baby,” said Feng.

Feng says he hopes to use it to treat a specific stage of prostate cancer.

“We’re targeting late stage metastasized prostate cancer patients, so these patients will have very severe metastasis all around their body that makes it hard to treat because the tumors are everywhere. So, with this drug, we can treat the primary tumor as well as the metastasized tumors,” said Feng.

It’s serious research for someone who, sometimes, isn’t very serious. The cancer-fighting doctor also likes to make people laugh on stage.

“Someone said my jokes are too ‘sciency,’ too ‘nerdy,’ but that’s just who I am,” said Feng.

The stand-up comedian and doctor writes his jokes with a cup of coffee nearby and a journal in hand. Besides being a doctor and comedian, Feng is also an immigrant. 

“It’s rare, there aren’t many immigrants doing comedy because, one, it’s very hard to step over the culture and language barrier,” said Feng.

But Feng has done just that. As for anyone who says his jokes are too nerdy, too bad.

“It’s a passion and I really love it and I can relax when I do comedy. It's like therapy to me, something I really love doing,” said Feng.

You can find Feng performing across the Triangle area.

He just had an open mic performance this week at a Durham bar.

Feng immigrated to the United States 10 years ago and got his Ph.D. from the University of Missouri in 2018.