Murphy began his career as a neuroscientist and professor at Harvard Medical School, where he taught from 1974 to 1986. He immigrated with his family in 1986 to Edmonton, Alberta, and became the chair of the Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology at the University of Alberta. In 1992, Murphy was named Director of the Montreal Neurological Institute at McGill University,[2] where he expanded the faculty by 20 members and led an effort to establish the Brain Tumour Research Centre.[1] The centre was eventually established in 1999, being the first Canadian centre devoted to researching the cause of brain tumors.[3]
Murphy was known colloquially as "Rich". He was married to Elaine (née Finnegan) Murphy, with whom he had three children: Jane, Mark, and Alison.[1] He died on March 24, 2022, at age 77.[6]
