Academic Research

Closing the Gap in
Prostate Cancer Care

Dr. Murphy has led multi-institutional research into why Black men face disproportionately worse prostate cancer outcomes — and what we can do about it. His work spans biomarkers, imaging, genomics, and global cancer registries.

Core Research Focus
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Prostate Cancer Biomarkers
Investigating diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers — including the Prostate Health Index (PHI), Stockholm3, and genomic scoring tools — to detect high-grade prostate cancer more accurately and reduce unnecessary biopsies across racially diverse men.
Ongoing · NIH Funded
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Health Disparities & Genomics
Studying genetic risk variants unique to men of African ancestry, polygenic risk scores, and the role of vitamin D deficiency in aggressive prostate cancer. Black men have double the mortality rate — Dr. Murphy's lab is working to change that.
Ongoing · VA Career Award
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MRI & Advanced Imaging
Evaluating multiparametric MRI and PI-RADS scoring accuracy for Black and Asian men in the landmark PREVENT trial, a multi-center study examining whether MRI-based risk tools developed in predominantly White populations perform equitably across all groups.
PREVENT Trial · Multi-institutional
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Global Cancer Registry Work
Establishing cancer surveillance infrastructure in sub-Saharan Africa, including epidemiological work at the Kumasi Cancer Registry in Ghana and development of validated health-needs tools for prostate cancer patients in Nigeria.
Global Health · Nigeria & Ghana
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Shared Decision-Making
Designing and piloting interactive workshops that help providers communicate prostate cancer screening and treatment options with underserved populations — including the LGBTQ community — through culturally sensitive shared decision-making frameworks.
Health Equity · Education
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Genomic Testing & Treatment
Lead investigator on a randomized controlled trial examining how Oncotype Dx Genomic Prostate Score affects urologists' treatment recommendations. Pioneering work on whether genomic data improves or biases care decisions in diverse populations.
Randomized Trial · Published 2023
Flagship Studies & Trials
2020–2026 · NIH-Funded
PHI + MRI for High-Grade Prostate Cancer Detection
A Northwestern University study evaluating whether combining the Prostate Health Index with multiparametric MRI can cost-effectively detect clinically significant prostate cancer — with an emphasis on diverse racial and ethnic cohorts.
2023 · Published
SEPTA Trial — Stockholm3 in a Multiethnic Cohort
A multi-center evaluation comparing Stockholm3, standard serum biomarkers, and established risk calculators for predicting prostate cancer in one of the most racially and ethnically diverse study populations ever assembled.
Active
PREVENT Trial — PI-RADS in Black and Asian Men
A secondary analysis of this randomized trial exploring whether MRI lesion scoring (PI-RADS) designed in White populations accurately calibrates for Black and Asian men — with major implications for diagnostic equity in urology.
2022 · Published
Prostate Cancer Biopsy Risk Calculator for Black Men
Developed and validated the first biopsy risk calculator specifically designed for Black men — comparing it against existing PCPT, PBCG, and Kaiser Permanente calculators for Gleason Grade ≥2 prostate cancer prediction.
Ongoing
Health Needs Assessment Tool — Nigeria Prostate Cancer
Designed and validated a culturally adapted tool measuring health-related social needs among prostate cancer patients in Nigeria, in collaboration with Nigerian academic medical centers — bridging global health equity research.
Global Research Destinations

Dr. Murphy's research has taken him across the globe — not merely to present findings, but to build infrastructure, forge partnerships, and deliver the science of prostate cancer equity where it is needed most.

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Nigeria
Health needs tool development for prostate cancer patients; prevalence studies at autopsy; multi-institutional collaboration with Nigerian academic hospitals.
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Ghana
Kumasi Cancer Registry establishment; epidemiological surveillance of cancer in sub-Saharan Africa; foundational infrastructure for African oncology research.
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Sweden
Collaboration with Karolinska-linked research teams on the Stockholm3 and SEPTA biomarker trials; transatlantic data harmonization across diverse cohorts.
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United States
Multi-institutional trials spanning Northwestern, UIC, Cook County, Jesse Brown VA, and partner sites across Chicago — rooted in the communities he grew up serving.
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International Conferences
Presented at the World Congress of Endourology, APHA Annual Meetings, and major urology society conferences worldwide — bringing Chicago's health equity story to global audiences.
Selected Key Publications
Impact of a Genomic Test on Treatment Decision in a Predominantly African American Population With Favorable-Risk Prostate Cancer
Murphy AB et al. · Randomized Trial · 2023
High Impact
Vitamin D Levels, Race, and Aggressive Prostate Cancer Risk
Murphy A, Kittles R et al. · Bowman Society Research Symposium · 2009
Foundational
Chronic Prostatitis: Management Strategies
Murphy A, Macejko A, Taylor A, Nadler RB · DRUGS · 2009
Clinical
Urologists and LGBTQ Patients: Survey of Practice Patterns, Attitudes, and Knowledge
Panken EJ, Gonzales-Alabastro CD, … Murphy AB et al.
Health Equity
Development and Validation of Health-Related Social Needs Tool for Prostate Cancer in Nigeria
Tolani MA, Awaisu M, … Murphy A et al.
Global Health
Targeted Antimicrobial Prophylaxis for Prostate Biopsy — Cost-Effectiveness Analysis
Murphy A et al. · Northwestern University
Clinical