James Bumgardner Murphy (4 August 1884 – 24 August 1950) was an American physiologist and anatomist who developed techniques for growing chicken and human tumor cells in fertilized chicken eggs which is used in cancer studies as well as for maintaining virus cultures.
He then joined Johns Hopkins Medical School in 1905 where he excelled in anatomical dissection and illustration, which impressed Harvey Cushing.
He developed techniques for growing mammalian tumor cells in embryonated hen's eggs.
During World War I, Murphy worked in Washington with Hans Zinsser to organize mobile hospitals and helped develop an Army Medical Laboratory Manual.
An ulcer, and a surgery with complications led to several years of poor health and convalescence.