George J. Murphy, PhD
Associate Professor
Boston University School of Medicine
Dept of Medicine
Hematology & Medical Oncology

PhD, University of Oxford




I have developed an approach to science that utilizes multiple stem cell-based platforms to answer basic biological questions and combat human disease. My current research portfolio is a direct reflection of my evolution as a scientist in which my early studies of hematopoietic development led to the generation of useful tools and reagents as well as methodologies and insights that synergized into a potent platform in the emerging and rapidly expanding field of pluripotent stem cell biology. My group is composed of dynamic and passionate young researchers and together we have impacted the following areas of investigation:

1.) Developmental hematopoiesis
2.) The generation, culture, and directed differentiation of pluripotent stem cells
3.) Pluripotent stem cell-based modeling of hematopoiesis: a Platform for Production of Transfusable Human Blood Cells
4.) Pluripotent Stem Cell Modeling of Human Disease: The ‘Clinical Trial in a Test Tube’: Sickle Cell Anemia; Amyloidosis

Boston Medical Center



2013 BUSM: National Blood Foundation (NBF) Scholar Award
2012 BUSM: Amyloid Foundation Junior Investigator Award
2011 BUSM: American Society of Hematology (ASH) Scholar Award
2008 Harvard Medical School: NIH NRSA Individual Fellowship Award
2002 Oxford University: Graduate Scholar in Molecular Biology


Defining the role of the AHR in Blood Cell Specification
01/01/2016 - 11/30/2020 (Co-PI)
PI: David H. Sherr, PhD
NIH/National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences
5R01ES025409-04

Globin Gene Expression in Sickle Cell Genotype-Specific iPS cells
07/05/2011 - 06/30/2017 (Co-PI)
PI: Martin H. Steinberg, MD
NIH/National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute
5U01HL107443-05

Stress Granules and the Biology of TDP-43
01/01/2016 - 12/31/2016 (Co-PI)
PI: Benjamin Wolozin, MD, PhD
NIH/National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences
4R01ES020395-05

Globin Gene Expression in Sickle Cell Genotype-Specific iPS cells
07/05/2011 - 06/30/2016 (Co-PI)
PI: Martin H. Steinberg, MD
NIH/National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute
1U01HL107443-01

Stress Granules and the Biology of TDP-43
03/01/2012 - 12/31/2015 (Co-PI)
PI: Benjamin Wolozin, MD, PhD
NIH/National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences
5R01ES020395-04

Boston University Clinical and Translational Science Award (CTSA) Program UL1
05/01/2008 - 04/30/2013 (PI of Sub-Project / SP)
PI: David M. Center, MD
NIH/National Center for Health Research Resources
3UL1RR025771-04


Mechanisms of cis-acting HbF regulation in sickle cell anemia
04/01/2017 - 03/31/2021 (PI)
NIH-NHLBI
5R01HL133350-02

Defining the role of the AHR in Blood Cell Specification
01/01/2016 - 11/30/2020 (PI)
Trustees of Boston University NIH-NIEHS

Megakaryocyte Transcription Factor Activation to Enhance In Vitro Platelet Production from Humans IP
09/10/2015 - 05/31/2019 (PI)
Children's Hospital NIH-NHLBI
5R01HL130793-04

Targeting Endogenous Signaling Pathways to Amliorate Systemic Amyloidoses
09/08/2014 - 06/30/2018 (PI)
The Scripps Research Institute NIH-NIDDK

iPSC-based Modeling and Therapeutic Intervention in Sickle Cell Disease
12/15/2016 - 12/14/2017 (PI)
Incyte Corporation

Globin Gene Expression in Sickle Cell Genotype-Specific iPS Cells
07/05/2011 - 06/30/2017 (PI)
Trustees of Boston University NIH-NHLBI

Pluripotent stem cells in the modeling of blood disease and the production of transfusable human red
07/01/2013 - 06/30/2015 (PI)
National Blood Fdtn

Induced Pluripotent Stem Cell Modeling of Human Hereditary Amyloidosis
01/01/2012 - 12/31/2014 (PI)
Amyloidosis Foundation

iPS Cells: Novel Applications for Thrombocytopania
07/01/2011 - 06/30/2013 (PI)
American Society of Hematology

Characterization of human hematopoietic and endodermal progenitors derived from iPS cells free of re
09/30/2009 - 08/31/2011 (PI)
Trustees of Boston University NIH-NHLBI



Yr Title Project-Sub Proj Pubs
2019 Defining the Role of the AHR in Blood Cell Specifications 5R01ES025409-04 4
2018 Mechanisms of cis-acting HbF regulation in sickle cell anemia 5R01HL133350-02 8
2018 Defining the Role of the AHR in Blood Cell Specifications 5R01ES025409-03 4
2017 Mechanisms of cis-acting HbF regulation in sickle cell anemia 1R01HL133350-01A1 8
2017 Defining the Role of the AHR in Blood Cell Specifications 5R01ES025409-02 4
2017 TARGETING ENDOGENOUS SIGNALING PATHWAYS TO AMELIORATE SYSTEMIC AMYLOIDOSES 5R01DK102635-04 12
2016 Defining the Role of the AHR in Blood Cell Specifications 1R01ES025409-01A1 4
2016 TARGETING ENDOGENOUS SIGNALING PATHWAYS TO AMELIORATE SYSTEMIC AMYLOIDOSES 5R01DK102635-03 12
2015 TARGETING ENDOGENOUS SIGNALING PATHWAYS TO AMELIORATE SYSTEMIC AMYLOIDOSES 5R01DK102635-02 12
2015 Globin Gene Expression in Sickle Cell Genotype-Specific iPS cells 5U01HL107443-05 15
Showing 10 of 18 results. Show All Results
Publications listed below are automatically derived from MEDLINE/PubMed and other sources, which might result in incorrect or missing publications. Faculty can login to make corrections and additions.

  1. Le CQ, Myers G, Habara A, Jearawiriyapaisarn N, Murphy GJ, Chui DHK, Steinberg M, Engel JD, Cui S. Inhibition of LSD1 by small molecule inhibitors stimulates fetal hemoglobin synthesis. Blood. 2019 Apr 16.View Related Profiles. PMID: 30992270.
     
  2. Seo H, Chen SJ, Hashimoto K, Endo H, Nishi Y, Ohta A, Yamamoto T, Hotta A, Sawaguchi A, Hayashi H, Koseki N, Murphy GJ, Fukuda K, Sugimoto N, Eto K. A ß1-tubulin-based megakaryocyte maturation reporter system identifies novel drugs that promote platelet production. Blood Adv. 2018 09 11; 2(17):2262-2272. PMID: 30206099.
     
  3. Vanuytsel K, Matte T, Leung A, Naing ZH, Morrison T, Chui DHK, Steinberg MH, Murphy GJ. Induced pluripotent stem cell-based mapping of ß-globin expression throughout human erythropoietic development. Blood Adv. 2018 08 14; 2(15):1998-2011.View Related Profiles. PMID: 30108108.
     
  4. Ward C, Volpe G, Cauchy P, Ptasinska A, Almaghrabi R, Blakemore D, Nafria M, Kestner D, Frampton J, Murphy G, Buganim Y, Kaji K, García P. Fine-Tuning Mybl2 Is Required for Proper Mesenchymal-to-Epithelial Transition during Somatic Reprogramming. Cell Rep. 2018 Aug 07; 24(6):1496-1511.e8. PMID: 30089261; DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2018.07.026;.
     
  5. Giadone RM, Rosarda JD, Akepati PR, Thomas AC, Boldbaatar B, James MF, Wilson AA, Sanchorawala V, Connors LH, Berk JL, Wiseman RL, Murphy GJ. A library of ATTR amyloidosis patient-specific induced pluripotent stem cells for disease modelling and in vitro testing of novel therapeutics. Amyloid. 2018 Sep; 25(3):148-155.View Related Profiles. PMID: 30032658.
     
  6. Leung A, Zulick E, Skvir N, Vanuytsel K, Morrison TA, Naing ZH, Wang Z, Dai Y, Chui DHK, Steinberg MH, Sherr DH, Murphy GJ. Notch and Aryl Hydrocarbon Receptor Signaling Impact Definitive Hematopoiesis from Human Pluripotent Stem Cells. Stem Cells. 2018 07; 36(7):1004-1019.View Related Profiles. PMID: 29569827.
     
  7. Morrison TA, Wilcox I, Luo HY, Farrell JJ, Kurita R, Nakamura Y, Murphy GJ, Cui S, Steinberg MH, Chui DHK. A long noncoding RNA from the HBS1L-MYB intergenic region on chr6q23 regulates human fetal hemoglobin expression. Blood Cells Mol Dis. 2018 03; 69:1-9.View Related Profiles. PMID: 29227829.
     
  8. Shaikho EM, Farrell JJ, Alsultan A, Qutub H, Al-Ali AK, Figueiredo MS, Chui DHK, Farrer LA, Murphy GJ, Mostoslavsky G, Sebastiani P, Steinberg MH. A phased SNP-based classification of sickle cell anemia HBB haplotypes. BMC Genomics. 2017 Aug 11; 18(1):608.View Related Profiles. PMID: 28800727.
     
  9. Ash PEA, Stanford EA, Al Abdulatif A, Ramirez-Cardenas A, Ballance HI, Boudeau S, Jeh A, Murithi JM, Tripodis Y, Murphy GJ, Sherr DH, Wolozin B. Dioxins and related environmental contaminants increase TDP-43 levels. Mol Neurodegener. 2017 05 05; 12(1):35.View Related Profiles. PMID: 28476168; DOI: 10.1186/s13024-017-0177-9;.
     
  10. Park S, Gianotti-Sommer A, Molina-Estevez FJ, Vanuytsel K, Skvir N, Leung A, Rozelle SS, Shaikho EM, Weir I, Jiang Z, Luo HY, Chui DHK, Figueiredo MS, Alsultan A, Al-Ali A, Sebastiani P, Steinberg MH, Mostoslavsky G, Murphy GJ. A Comprehensive, Ethnically Diverse Library of Sickle Cell Disease-Specific Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells. Stem Cell Reports. 2017 Apr 11; 8(4):1076-1085.View Related Profiles. PMID: 28111279; DOI: 10.1016/j.stemcr.2016.12.017;.
     
Showing 10 of 34 results. Show More

This graph shows the total number of publications by year, by first, middle/unknown, or last author.

Bar chart showing 34 publications over 16 distinct years, with a maximum of 5 publications in 2016 and 2018

YearPublications
19992
20011
20031
20043
20061
20092
20102
20111
20121
20132
20142
20151
20165
20174
20185
20191
In addition to these self-described keywords below, a list of MeSH based concepts is available here.

Amyloidosis
Embryonic Stem Cells
gene therapy
gene transfer
Hematopoiesis
induced Pluripotent Stem Cells
molecular biology
retorviruses
Sickle Cell Anemia
stem cell biology

My success as an independent investigator in an extraordinarily competitive branch of science is the direct result of the thoughtful and effective mentorship I have received throughout my career. As such, I understand the critical importance of mentorship, and it has been the foundation upon which I built my lab and surrounding Center, the emphasis point in my role as the Director of Research in my Division, and is central to the philosophy of my Directorship of this T32 Program. Although I am just a mid-career investigator, I have had extensive experience with scientific leadership. Along with my two colleagues Gustavo Mostoslavsky MD/PhD and Darrell Kotton MD, I founded and direct the Boston University and Boston Medical Center’s Center for Regenerative Medicine (CReM) (www.bumc.bu.edu/stemcells), where 44 scientists including 9 faculty members work together, synergistically in a multi-disciplinary approach to advancing stem cell biology and regenerative medicine. In founding the CReM, I constructed and implemented a strategic plan steeped in guiding principles such as scientific rigor, collegiality, and mentorship. Under my direction, the CReM has been highly successful and has become the number one Center on campus as judged by all metrics of productivity including funding, high impact publications, and the recruitment and placement of the highest quality trainees. These foundational keys are also directly imparted to my students and trainees. My previous students and fellows trained in these disciplines have been extremely successful (Sarah S. Rozelle: completed her PhD, became a postdoctoral fellow at Harvard Medical School, and is now an Assistant Professor at UMASS Lowell; Shirley N. Nah: completed her MS and is currently a surgical resident at the University of Texas; Brenden W. Smith: completed his PhD in June 2016, became a staff scientist and presidential postdoctoral fellow at Novartis, and is now the lead scientist in drug delivery at Platelet Biogenesis; Elizabeth Zulick completed her postdoctoral fellowship, attained am Assistant Professorship at Northeastern University, and now directs the entire Biology and Biotechnology platforms at the University). All of the research technicians who have passed through my lab have gone onto PhD or MD programs, as again, one of the CReMs founding principles is that of quality mentorship at all levels. I am also a sought after dissertation advisor for PhD and MD/PhD students having mentored more than 15 students in this capacity including those at nearby institutions including Harvard.
I have previously served as a member of the Executive Committee on the HTP for the past five years, and in 2017, I was appointed the Director of Research in the Division of Hematology and Medical Oncology at the Boston University School of Medicine. In playing a pivotal role in shaping the future research directives of the Division, I will place the HTP as the centerpiece of my platform with the realization that my direction of this T32 will be responsible for producing/training the next great generation of hematologist and scientists. I have also been involved in the development of the integrated Program in Biomedical Sciences (PiBS) graduate program, having taught several courses including a Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine module pioneered by myself and my colleagues in the CReM. I have also recently become a member of the PiBS admissions committee thereby ensuring that applicants who have indicated an interest in hematology are interviewed by HTP faculty who then have important influence on the decision to extend offers of admittance. In summary, I have a demonstrated record of successful and productive research projects and trainees in an extraordinarily competitive field, and my expertise and experience have prepared me to lead this Program with passion and direction.

Available to Mentor as: (Review Mentor Role Definitions):
  • Advisor
  • Career Mentor
  • Co-Mentor or Peer Mentor
  • Education Mentor
  • Project Mentor
  • Research / Scholarly Mentor
  • Work / Life Integration Mentor
Contact for Mentoring:
  • Email (see 'Contact Info')

Research Overview
Brewing Blood: Transfusable Stem Cell-Derived Blood Products
Lab TV: Dr. Murphy
CBS News Boston: Brewing Blood

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At This Research Center, Art’s Part Of The Equation

The Boston Globe 4/29/2019
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Promotions to Associate Professor Go to 16 on Medical Campus

BU Today 7/6/2018

650 Albany St Evans Biomed Research Ctr
Boston MA 02118
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617.638.7520
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