Dr. Thomas Murphy

Biography

Thomas Miles Murphy is a Professor Emeritus in the Department of Pediatrics at Duke University, recognized for his extensive research in airway smooth muscle and its implications in asthma. His research primarily focuses on various aspects of airway contractility, including the maturation of airway contractile responses, mechanisms of airway hyperresponsiveness, and the role of high-affinity IgE receptors in airway smooth muscle. Murphy’s lab has pioneered models contributing to the understanding of airway hyperresponsiveness in young guinea pigs, revealing significant insights into developmental changes in contractility and the molecular mechanisms involved. His collaboration with key researchers, including Dr. John Hoidal from the University of Utah, has advanced the understanding of NAD(P)H oxidase's role in regulating cell growth and contraction in airway smooth muscle. In his recent studies, he examines the contributions of TGFβ signaling to airway hyperresponsiveness and the involvement of neuroendocrine cell secretions in asthma pathophysiology. Murphy has been awarded multiple grants from the National Institutes of Health to support his research endeavors over the years. He holds an M.D. from the University of Rochester, earned in 1973.

Research Interests

Experience