I choose to work 7 days a week and have no boundaries between a “work day”, a week end day or a vacation day. I believe there is so much to do and so little time.

Focused Themes (Links to some of his published articles can be found here)

I made use of my international recognition to help Canadian companies make deals with global  companies. I have done this for  Synaptive and Bayliss

Areas in which Dr. Murphy has focused his expertise and passion have been:

The discovery of true path of csf absorption

Development of the ozone device. Dr Murphy did the basic research,  built the  company , launched company in Canada

Developed and raised funding for pediatric surgical training in east Africa

He creates a culture of innovation and creativity by working with Techna, Society of Physician Entrepreneurs, Rotman school of business, Peter Munk Cardiac Center innovation committee and Krembil Neuroscience Center to create an environment of invention and creativity.

Development of new Imaging techniques and Machines

-Developed Ultrasound contrast enhanced transcranial doppler and published the first paper.

-Developed Dynamic Contrast enhanced gadolinium MR angiography and published the first paper.

– Worked with Toshiba for 10 years to develop the worlds first whole head and whole heart multi detector CT and CT fluoroscopy now used globally. He developed the Toshiba Aquilion product line culminating in the 256 and then 320 slice CT scanner.  Performed and published the first whole head dynamic CTA. We also developed CT fluoroscopy available on over 1million Toshiba CT scanners globally.

– worked with Synaptive to develop a cost effective mobile super conducting MRI machine that doesn’t use helium.  This Canadian company is a global leader in cutting edge imaging.

Back pain in Women.

Women get back pain for different reasons than men.

They also suffer significant gender bias when they seek care.

-Investigation of causes of back pain unique to women.

-Development of therapies for back pain in women.

-Raising Physician awareness of gender bias in the treatment of women with back pain.

DNA damage from diagnostic and interventional radiation exposure.

I invented an oral antioxidant that blocks DNA damage from x ray exposure. This is derived from an apple skin extract called quercetin. I developed this in collaboration with Dalhousie University. We have shown in animal and prospective randomized human studies that we can block 90% of the DNA damage to nuclear and mitochondrial DNA with our formulation. We have started a company called Cora Therapeutics.

In addition, I have worked on

-Identification of genetic risk factors for impaired repair ability in patients and health care professionals exposed to radiation.

-Development of pre and post exposure antioxidant formulations and PARP repair up regulators to decrease DNA damage from radiation exposure

-Development of alternative materials to lead that are lighter and more effective. We have developed a new 3 layer material that is now in production in the Philippines for global distribution.

3) Study of the radiological appearance of elder abuse.

I was concerned we were missing radiological finding g of physical abuse of the elderly. We have now published 5 papers on this topic and have changed radiological awareness.

Amongst these papers are ones that

–Investigation of the manifestations radiologically of physical abuse of the elderly.

-Education of radiologists to bring awareness that this happens and that its similarity to Caffeys “battered baby syndrome”.

4) Investigation of the role infections play in degenerative disc disease.

-Study of the role of Proprionobacterium Acnes in Modic type 1 and 2 changes in the disc space.

-Development of process and method to increase the yield of disc and bone biopsy of infected tissue.

– Development of new vibrating needles for biopsy to increase tissue yield.

– Development of a tissue transport system to maintain anerobic bacteria viability.

5) Development of a devices and methods to augment skeletal destructive processes in benign and malignant disease.

Developed the Murphy Vertebroplasty system and the first dedicated vertebroplasty cements. Trained 1000s of radiologists in SIR, ASNR, CIRCE and Asia how to do the procedure

– Continuous device and implant development for better vertebroplasty in benign and malignant disease of the vertebra and sacrum.

-Development of a multipurpose generator to support facet nerve, tumor ablation, and cryo ablation.

-Development of hypothermic and hyperthermic polymethylmethacrylate cements for benign and malignant disease.

– Development of ozone disc lysis, both as a disposable handheld device, and as a FDA approved, CMS OHIP reimbursed technique.

-In addition to my current research fund the Toronto Western Foundation has approved an 8M dollar fund raise for a dedicated image guided spine therapy center composed of a dedicated Biplaine angio suite and separate CT fluoro unit.

The Murphy devices are used over 200,000 times a year globally

6) Medical education.

We hoard medical knowledge, yet 99% of what we know is not unique.

-With the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland I am developing a surgical team education program that will use the Medlantis platform to support the pediatric surgical education needs of 22 countries in east Africa. This is supported by 2M Euros from the Irish Government, and 5 M Euros from the EU 2020 program

7) Compassion in health care.

-Through my own experience I realized that most health care is provided by the lowest paid workers in our hospital systems. The young new Canadians from Ghana, Tibet, Nepal, India, Botswana who looked after me when I was septic, profoundly sick and couldn’t walk will always be on my mind. I have been writing about this and looking at Patient Support Worker educational pathways.