Ciarán Murphy-Royal
@murphyroyallab.org
Glia-neuron interactions - Astrocytes, Synapses, Behaviour, & Stress
Associate Professor
Dept. of Neuroscience
Université de Montréal - CRCHUM
www.murphyroyallab.org
Neurobiology of Stress workshop
16-19 June 2026, Montreal
www.stress2026.com
Associate Professor
Dept. of Neuroscience
Université de Montréal - CRCHUM
www.murphyroyallab.org
Neurobiology of Stress workshop
16-19 June 2026, Montreal
www.stress2026.com
Pinned
Astrocytic Encoding of Threat in the Basolateral Amygdala
The basolateral amygdala (BLA) has long been implicated in threat detection and the generation of anxiety states. While previous experiments have demonstrated the important role of BLA principal neuro...
www.biorxiv.org
Delighted to share our first preprint of the year!
A project that we're all really proud of in the lab led by @ossamaghenissa.bsky.social with @mathiasgua.bsky.social in which we set out to test the role of basolateral amygdala astrocytes in anxiety behaviour.
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.6...
A project that we're all really proud of in the lab led by @ossamaghenissa.bsky.social with @mathiasgua.bsky.social in which we set out to test the role of basolateral amygdala astrocytes in anxiety behaviour.
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.6...
Reposted by Ciarán Murphy-Royal
For Canadian scholars, the reality is bleak .
Ottawa is dangling money for American researchers, but what about our own? #academicsky #neuroskyence #psychscisky
Ottawa is dangling money for American researchers, but what about our own? #academicsky #neuroskyence #psychscisky
January 12, 2026 at 11:29 AM
For Canadian scholars, the reality is bleak .
Ottawa is dangling money for American researchers, but what about our own? #academicsky #neuroskyence #psychscisky
Ottawa is dangling money for American researchers, but what about our own? #academicsky #neuroskyence #psychscisky
Delighted to share our first preprint of the year!
A project that we're all really proud of in the lab led by @ossamaghenissa.bsky.social with @mathiasgua.bsky.social in which we set out to test the role of basolateral amygdala astrocytes in anxiety behaviour.
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.6...
A project that we're all really proud of in the lab led by @ossamaghenissa.bsky.social with @mathiasgua.bsky.social in which we set out to test the role of basolateral amygdala astrocytes in anxiety behaviour.
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.6...
Astrocytic Encoding of Threat in the Basolateral Amygdala
The basolateral amygdala (BLA) has long been implicated in threat detection and the generation of anxiety states. While previous experiments have demonstrated the important role of BLA principal neuro...
www.biorxiv.org
January 8, 2026 at 7:58 PM
Delighted to share our first preprint of the year!
A project that we're all really proud of in the lab led by @ossamaghenissa.bsky.social with @mathiasgua.bsky.social in which we set out to test the role of basolateral amygdala astrocytes in anxiety behaviour.
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.6...
A project that we're all really proud of in the lab led by @ossamaghenissa.bsky.social with @mathiasgua.bsky.social in which we set out to test the role of basolateral amygdala astrocytes in anxiety behaviour.
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.6...
Reposted by Ciarán Murphy-Royal
We identified how mechanical forces shape myelin development. The TMEM63A channel in oligodendrocytes converts physical cues into molecular signals that control myelin growth.
Oligodendrocyte mechanotransduction channel TMEM63A regulates myelin sheath geometry: Neuron www.cell.com/neuron/fullt...
Oligodendrocyte mechanotransduction channel TMEM63A regulates myelin sheath geometry: Neuron www.cell.com/neuron/fullt...
Oligodendrocyte mechanotransduction channel TMEM63A regulates myelin sheath geometry
Dereddi, Djannatian, and colleagues show that oligodendrocytes use mechanical cues
to measure axon size. The stretch-activated channel TMEM63A converts membrane tension
into calcium signals, which cal...
www.cell.com
January 2, 2026 at 3:55 PM
We identified how mechanical forces shape myelin development. The TMEM63A channel in oligodendrocytes converts physical cues into molecular signals that control myelin growth.
Oligodendrocyte mechanotransduction channel TMEM63A regulates myelin sheath geometry: Neuron www.cell.com/neuron/fullt...
Oligodendrocyte mechanotransduction channel TMEM63A regulates myelin sheath geometry: Neuron www.cell.com/neuron/fullt...
Reposted by Ciarán Murphy-Royal
New Year, new paper from our lab. Emily Kramer used 3D light-sheet imaging and tissue clearing to examine the spatial architecture of mouse amygdala engram ensembles.
onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/...
onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/...
Examining the Three‐Dimensional Spatial Architecture of Mouse Amygdala Engram Ensembles
Memories are stored in a sparse population of neurons active at the time of an event, an engram ensemble, and reactivation of the engram ensemble drives memory recall. Although the amygdala is essent...
onlinelibrary.wiley.com
January 1, 2026 at 2:43 PM
New Year, new paper from our lab. Emily Kramer used 3D light-sheet imaging and tissue clearing to examine the spatial architecture of mouse amygdala engram ensembles.
onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/...
onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/...
Reposted by Ciarán Murphy-Royal
Reminder that this job is open! If you have any questions, feel free to get in touch. Deadline is February 20th.
Great news! We are looking for an NHP neuroscientist as the assistant professor level. We have no preconceived ideas -- looking for the most exciting research going. If you have any questions, please reach out. universityaffairs.ca/search-jobs/...
Search Jobs - University Affairs
universityaffairs.ca
January 6, 2026 at 8:36 PM
Reminder that this job is open! If you have any questions, feel free to get in touch. Deadline is February 20th.
🚨 PI position in dept. of Neuroscience with lab located the @crchum.bsky.social
Hiring at assistant/associate prof level in the fields of neural regeneration, stem cells and spinal-associated pathologies
can-acn.org/professor-re...
Hiring at assistant/associate prof level in the fields of neural regeneration, stem cells and spinal-associated pathologies
can-acn.org/professor-re...
Professor-researcher (assistant or associate) in Neuroscience related to neural regeneration, stem cells and spinal-associated pathologies – Université de Montréal – Canadian Association for Neuroscie...
can-acn.org
January 5, 2026 at 11:13 PM
🚨 PI position in dept. of Neuroscience with lab located the @crchum.bsky.social
Hiring at assistant/associate prof level in the fields of neural regeneration, stem cells and spinal-associated pathologies
can-acn.org/professor-re...
Hiring at assistant/associate prof level in the fields of neural regeneration, stem cells and spinal-associated pathologies
can-acn.org/professor-re...
Reposted by Ciarán Murphy-Royal
New preprint from the lab! For those who love astrocytes 🤩. We welcome feedback! #preprint #openaccess #astrocytes #autism
Metabolic, epigenetic and transcriptomic alterations in postnatal 16p11.2 deficient murine astrocytes
Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) are associated with metabolic dysregulation. While astrocytes are integral to cerebral metabolism, their molecular and functional changes in ASD are poorly known. Using...
www.biorxiv.org
December 17, 2025 at 12:59 PM
New preprint from the lab! For those who love astrocytes 🤩. We welcome feedback! #preprint #openaccess #astrocytes #autism
Huge milestone for the lab last week with @lewisholt.bsky.social defending his PhD!
He really got tested by the jury and put on a phenomenal performance fitting with all the exceptional work he did in the lab.
Really sad to see Lewis go, but we managed to squeeze in one last lab party!
He really got tested by the jury and put on a phenomenal performance fitting with all the exceptional work he did in the lab.
Really sad to see Lewis go, but we managed to squeeze in one last lab party!
December 15, 2025 at 7:41 PM
Huge milestone for the lab last week with @lewisholt.bsky.social defending his PhD!
He really got tested by the jury and put on a phenomenal performance fitting with all the exceptional work he did in the lab.
Really sad to see Lewis go, but we managed to squeeze in one last lab party!
He really got tested by the jury and put on a phenomenal performance fitting with all the exceptional work he did in the lab.
Really sad to see Lewis go, but we managed to squeeze in one last lab party!
Fantastic talk from @papouinlab.bsky.social at the @crchum.bsky.social !
Next on to @lewisholt.bsky.social ‘s PhD defense!
Next on to @lewisholt.bsky.social ‘s PhD defense!
December 12, 2025 at 6:43 PM
Fantastic talk from @papouinlab.bsky.social at the @crchum.bsky.social !
Next on to @lewisholt.bsky.social ‘s PhD defense!
Next on to @lewisholt.bsky.social ‘s PhD defense!
Fantastic presentation from @mathiasgua.bsky.social at @umontreal.ca Neuro department research day.
Showing all his cool new data!
Showing all his cool new data!
December 10, 2025 at 2:23 PM
Fantastic presentation from @mathiasgua.bsky.social at @umontreal.ca Neuro department research day.
Showing all his cool new data!
Showing all his cool new data!
Reposted by Ciarán Murphy-Royal
It's happening! Canada launched two programs to recruit international researchers.
Canada Impact+ Research Chairs (1 million/yr for 8 yrs +)
Canada Impact+ Emerging Leaders.
I will do my best to facilitate the process for those interested. Hit me up.
www.canada.ca/en/impact-pl...
Canada Impact+ Research Chairs (1 million/yr for 8 yrs +)
Canada Impact+ Emerging Leaders.
I will do my best to facilitate the process for those interested. Hit me up.
www.canada.ca/en/impact-pl...
The Government of Canada introduces new programs for international researchers - Canada.ca
www.canada.ca
December 9, 2025 at 6:06 PM
It's happening! Canada launched two programs to recruit international researchers.
Canada Impact+ Research Chairs (1 million/yr for 8 yrs +)
Canada Impact+ Emerging Leaders.
I will do my best to facilitate the process for those interested. Hit me up.
www.canada.ca/en/impact-pl...
Canada Impact+ Research Chairs (1 million/yr for 8 yrs +)
Canada Impact+ Emerging Leaders.
I will do my best to facilitate the process for those interested. Hit me up.
www.canada.ca/en/impact-pl...
Final journal club of the year so we rounded up what we thought were the best papers of 2025! 🤩
Limit was 1 per person, so tough decisions were made...
www.murphyroyallab.org/journal-club
Limit was 1 per person, so tough decisions were made...
www.murphyroyallab.org/journal-club
Journal Club — Murphy-Royal Lab
www.murphyroyallab.org
December 9, 2025 at 4:20 PM
Final journal club of the year so we rounded up what we thought were the best papers of 2025! 🤩
Limit was 1 per person, so tough decisions were made...
www.murphyroyallab.org/journal-club
Limit was 1 per person, so tough decisions were made...
www.murphyroyallab.org/journal-club
Reposted by Ciarán Murphy-Royal
After a constructive and extensive revision, happy to share our manuscript published in @elife.bsky.social entitled "Dorsal hippocampus mediates light–tone associations in male mice" (doi.org/10.7554/eLif...). Congrats to Julia Pinho, @carlarduaso.bsky.social and @imanzanaressierra.bsky.social.
Dorsal hippocampus mediates light–tone associations in male mice
A light–tone sensory preconditioning task in male mice is developed revealing sex differences and demonstrating that dorsal, but not ventral, hippocampal CaMKII-positive neurons encode innocuous stimu...
doi.org
December 4, 2025 at 9:05 PM
After a constructive and extensive revision, happy to share our manuscript published in @elife.bsky.social entitled "Dorsal hippocampus mediates light–tone associations in male mice" (doi.org/10.7554/eLif...). Congrats to Julia Pinho, @carlarduaso.bsky.social and @imanzanaressierra.bsky.social.
Reposted by Ciarán Murphy-Royal
Will find way to incorporate this into next talk! 🫶
Frontiers | Taylor Swift versus Mozart: music preferences of C57BL/6J mice
IntroductionMusic has become an established complementary element of modern medicine, demonstrating beneficial effects towards various diseases such as demen...
www.frontiersin.org
December 3, 2025 at 12:46 AM
Will find way to incorporate this into next talk! 🫶
Reposted by Ciarán Murphy-Royal
New York Times article on science funding with some depressing but familiar curves with interactive graphics.
www.nytimes.com/interactive/...
www.nytimes.com/interactive/...
The U.S. Is Funding Fewer Grants in Every Area of Science and Medicine (Gift Article)
A quiet policy change means the government is making fewer bets on long-term science.
www.nytimes.com
December 2, 2025 at 11:57 AM
New York Times article on science funding with some depressing but familiar curves with interactive graphics.
www.nytimes.com/interactive/...
www.nytimes.com/interactive/...
Reposted by Ciarán Murphy-Royal
On behalf of CANGlia: Call for 2026 symposia proposals for the 2026 CANGlia Meeting in Montreal (May 15–16).
Submit by Dec 31, 2025 to [email protected]
All areas of glial research welcome. Details: https://www.networkglia.eu/activities/
Submit by Dec 31, 2025 to [email protected]
All areas of glial research welcome. Details: https://www.networkglia.eu/activities/
Activities - Network Glia e. V.
Call for CANGlia 2026 Symposia Proposals | Deadline: December 31st, 2025 The Canadian Association for Neuroscientists who study Glia (CANGlia) is now accepting Proposals for the 2026 CANGlia Meeting in Montreal (May 15-16th, 2026), with a deadline of Wednesday, December 31st, 2025. Please see below for more details and do not hesitate to reach out …
www.networkglia.eu
December 2, 2025 at 8:44 AM
On behalf of CANGlia: Call for 2026 symposia proposals for the 2026 CANGlia Meeting in Montreal (May 15–16).
Submit by Dec 31, 2025 to [email protected]
All areas of glial research welcome. Details: https://www.networkglia.eu/activities/
Submit by Dec 31, 2025 to [email protected]
All areas of glial research welcome. Details: https://www.networkglia.eu/activities/
Reposted by Ciarán Murphy-Royal
Please repost: another kind of Black-Friday deal!
November 28, 2025 at 6:43 PM
Please repost: another kind of Black-Friday deal!
Reposted by Ciarán Murphy-Royal
Nature Sci Rep publishes incoherent AI slop. eLife publishes a paper which the reviewers didn't agree with, making all the comments and responses public with thoughtful commentary. One of these journals got delisted by Web of Science for quality concerns from not doing peer review. Guess which one?
November 27, 2025 at 1:35 PM
Nature Sci Rep publishes incoherent AI slop. eLife publishes a paper which the reviewers didn't agree with, making all the comments and responses public with thoughtful commentary. One of these journals got delisted by Web of Science for quality concerns from not doing peer review. Guess which one?
Reposted by Ciarán Murphy-Royal
Out now: Favila, Capece Marsico et al. 2025, Nature Communications: Using longitudinal deep-brain imaging, we report that amygdala interneurons exhibit complex and heterogeneous plasticity during associative learning, at both the single-cell and population level.
👉 www.nature.com/articles/s41...
👉 www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Heterogeneous plasticity of amygdala interneurons in associative learning and extinction - Nature Communications
In this study, the authors uncover how diverse inhibitory interneurons in the amygdala flexibly contribute to fear and safety learning, revealing a key role for inhibition in emotional memory and adap...
www.nature.com
November 12, 2025 at 6:55 PM
Out now: Favila, Capece Marsico et al. 2025, Nature Communications: Using longitudinal deep-brain imaging, we report that amygdala interneurons exhibit complex and heterogeneous plasticity during associative learning, at both the single-cell and population level.
👉 www.nature.com/articles/s41...
👉 www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Reposted by Ciarán Murphy-Royal
New lab paper drop, this one has been a long time coming! Driven by Rob Aukema (now a postdoc with Kerry Ressler) this paper in Science Advances answered the lingering question of what role the amygdala plays in stress-induced neuroendocrine responses.
www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
A network of basolateral amygdala projection neurons contributes to stress-induced activation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis
A network of basolateral amygdala neurons, but not singular projections, contributes to the neuroendocrine response to stress.
www.science.org
November 25, 2025 at 10:13 PM
New lab paper drop, this one has been a long time coming! Driven by Rob Aukema (now a postdoc with Kerry Ressler) this paper in Science Advances answered the lingering question of what role the amygdala plays in stress-induced neuroendocrine responses.
www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
Reposted by Ciarán Murphy-Royal
Excited to share the first publication out of my lab!
www.jove.com/t/69418/simu...
We describe the approach that I developed during my postdoc in the Thompson Lab for inducing stroke in behaving mice while recording neuronal activity in the emerging core.
www.jove.com/t/69418/simu...
We describe the approach that I developed during my postdoc in the Thompson Lab for inducing stroke in behaving mice while recording neuronal activity in the emerging core.
November 21, 2025 at 10:21 PM
Excited to share the first publication out of my lab!
www.jove.com/t/69418/simu...
We describe the approach that I developed during my postdoc in the Thompson Lab for inducing stroke in behaving mice while recording neuronal activity in the emerging core.
www.jove.com/t/69418/simu...
We describe the approach that I developed during my postdoc in the Thompson Lab for inducing stroke in behaving mice while recording neuronal activity in the emerging core.
Reposted by Ciarán Murphy-Royal
👉🏼👉🏾👉🏻👉🏿👉🏽An opportunity for a PhD studentship in my lab to investigate the mechanisms that mediate the specialization astrocyte endfeet (subcellular compartments enwrapping the vasculature) in collaboration with the magnificent Lorena Arancibia.
See below:
See below:
November 19, 2025 at 10:17 PM
👉🏼👉🏾👉🏻👉🏿👉🏽An opportunity for a PhD studentship in my lab to investigate the mechanisms that mediate the specialization astrocyte endfeet (subcellular compartments enwrapping the vasculature) in collaboration with the magnificent Lorena Arancibia.
See below:
See below:
Reposted by Ciarán Murphy-Royal
Share your research at the next Canadian Neuroscience Meeting May 18-21, 2026 in Montreal!
Calls for Parallel Symposia, Satellite Meetings, Poster Abstract and Travel & Professional Awards are now open - Don't miss these opportunities!
can-acn.org/meeting-2026/
Calls for Parallel Symposia, Satellite Meetings, Poster Abstract and Travel & Professional Awards are now open - Don't miss these opportunities!
can-acn.org/meeting-2026/
November 14, 2025 at 7:34 PM
Share your research at the next Canadian Neuroscience Meeting May 18-21, 2026 in Montreal!
Calls for Parallel Symposia, Satellite Meetings, Poster Abstract and Travel & Professional Awards are now open - Don't miss these opportunities!
can-acn.org/meeting-2026/
Calls for Parallel Symposia, Satellite Meetings, Poster Abstract and Travel & Professional Awards are now open - Don't miss these opportunities!
can-acn.org/meeting-2026/
Reposted by Ciarán Murphy-Royal
Time to hibernate… or ski to work! 😅
November 11, 2025 at 1:44 PM
Time to hibernate… or ski to work! 😅