Professor Chris Murphy serves as the Emeritus Bosch Professor of Histology and Embryology and Professor of Female Reproductive Biology in the Faculty of Medicine and Health at the University of Sydney. He obtained his BSc (Hons) from the University of Adelaide in 1976, majoring in politics and zoology, followed by a PhD from Flinders University in 1980 in cell biology and histology, and a DSc from the University of Sydney in 1998. As a Fellow of the Royal Microscopy Society (FRMS), Murphy held significant leadership roles including Head of the School of Medical Sciences and Fellow of the University of Sydney Senate. He retired in 2019 after a distinguished career spanning over three decades at the University but continues to engage in research at a reduced capacity.

Murphy's research focuses on female reproductive biology, particularly the biology of the uterus and the mechanisms enabling implantation of the blastocyst. His work explores how uterine epithelial cells undergo structural and functional alterations to become receptive during implantation, the evolution of live birth and the uterus as an active nourishing organ in mammals and squamate lizards, female fertility, and complications such as endometriosis. He has published extensively on these topics since 1979, with key contributions including 'Commonality Within Diversity: The Plasma Membrane Transformation of Uterine Epithelial Cells During Early Placentation' (2012), studies on uterodomes and pregnancy outcomes, and investigations into porosomes in uterine epithelial cells. Murphy maintains editorial roles on the boards of international journals such as Membranes, Journal of Morphology, and Acta Histochemica. He has served on the Ethics Committee of IVF Australia since 2012 and taught histology, cell biology, and embryology to undergraduate students in science, medical science, medicine, and dentistry programs. Additionally, he co-authored the textbook Functional Histology, 2nd Edition, supporting medical education.

Professional Email: histology@sydney.edu.au