diff --git a/packages/jupyter-ai/jupyter_ai/extension.py b/packages/jupyter-ai/jupyter_ai/extension.py
index 2d49a299f..8a14470c9 100644
--- a/packages/jupyter-ai/jupyter_ai/extension.py
+++ b/packages/jupyter-ai/jupyter_ai/extension.py
@@ -1,4 +1,6 @@
 from __future__ import annotations
+
+import asyncio
 import os
 import time
 from asyncio import get_event_loop_policy
@@ -30,7 +32,7 @@
 from .secrets.secrets_rest_api import SecretsRestAPI
 
 if TYPE_CHECKING:
-    from typing import Any, Optional
+    from typing import Any
     from asyncio import AbstractEventLoop
 
 from jupyter_collaboration import (  # type:ignore[import-untyped]  # isort:skip
@@ -216,14 +218,15 @@ def initialize(self, argv: Any = None) -> None:
         self.ychats_by_room: dict[str, YChat] = {}
         """Cache of YChat instances, indexed by room ID."""
 
-        if self.serverapp is not None:
-            self.event_logger = self.serverapp.web_app.settings["event_logger"]
-            self.event_logger.add_listener(
-                schema_id=JUPYTER_COLLABORATION_EVENTS_URI, listener=self.connect_chat
-            )
+        # Original direct event listener (commented out for router integration)
+        # if self.serverapp is not None:
+        #     self.event_logger = self.serverapp.web_app.settings["event_logger"]
+        #     self.event_logger.add_listener(
+        #         schema_id=JUPYTER_COLLABORATION_EVENTS_URI, listener=self.connect_chat
+        #     )
 
     @property
-    def event_loop(self) -> "AbstractEventLoop":
+    def event_loop(self) -> AbstractEventLoop:
         """
         Returns a reference to the asyncio event loop.
         """
@@ -347,6 +350,8 @@ def initialize_settings(self):
         # When a message's interrupt event is set, the response is halted.
         self.settings["jai_message_interrupted"] = {}
 
+        self.event_loop.create_task(self._setup_router_integration())
+
         # Log server extension startup time
         self.log.info(f"Registered {self.name} server extension")
         startup_time = round((time.time() - start) * 1000)
@@ -377,14 +382,14 @@ async def _stop_extension(self):
 
     def _init_persona_manager(
         self, room_id: str, ychat: YChat
-    ) -> Optional[PersonaManager]:
+    ) -> PersonaManager | None:
         """
         Initializes a `PersonaManager` instance scoped to a `YChat`.
 
         This method should not raise an exception. Upon encountering an
         exception, this method will catch it, log it, and return `None`.
         """
-        persona_manager: Optional[PersonaManager] = None
+        persona_manager: PersonaManager | None = None
 
         try:
             config_manager = self.settings.get("jai_config_manager", None)
@@ -428,6 +433,56 @@ def _init_persona_manager(
         finally:
             return persona_manager
 
+    async def _setup_router_integration(self) -> None:
+        """
+        Set up integration with jupyter-ai-router if available.
+        This allows persona manager to work through the centralized MessageRouter.
+        """
+        self.log.info("Waiting for the router to be ready")
+
+        # Wait until the router field is available
+        while True:
+            router = self.serverapp.web_app.settings.get("jupyter-ai", {}).get("router")
+            if router is not None:
+                self.log.info("Router is ready, continuing with the integration")
+                break
+            await asyncio.sleep(0.1)  # Check every 100ms
+
+        try:
+            self.log.info("Found jupyter-ai-router, registering callbacks")
+
+            # Register callback for new chat initialization
+            router.observe_chat_init(self._on_router_chat_init)
+
+            # Store reference to router for later use
+            self.router = router
+
+        except Exception as e:
+            self.log.error(f"Error setting up router integration: {e}")
+
+    def _on_router_chat_init(self, room_id: str, ychat: YChat) -> None:
+        """
+        Callback for when router detects a new chat initialization.
+        This replaces the direct event listener approach.
+        """
+        self.log.info(f"Router detected new chat room: {room_id}")
+
+        # Cache the YChat instance
+        self.ychats_by_room[room_id] = ychat
+
+        # Initialize persona manager for this chat
+        persona_manager = self._init_persona_manager(room_id, ychat)
+        if not persona_manager:
+            self.log.error(
+                "Jupyter AI was unable to initialize its AI personas. They are not available for use in chat until this error is resolved. "
+                + "Please verify your configuration and open a new issue on GitHub if this error persists."
+            )
+            return
+
+        # Register persona manager callbacks with router
+        self.router.observe_chat_msg(room_id, persona_manager.on_chat_message)
+        self.router.observe_slash_cmd_msg(room_id, persona_manager.on_slash_cmd_message)
+
     def _link_jupyter_server_extension(self, server_app: ServerApp):
         """Setup custom config needed by this extension."""
         c = Config()
diff --git a/packages/jupyter-ai/jupyter_ai/personas/persona_manager.py b/packages/jupyter-ai/jupyter_ai/personas/persona_manager.py
index 0fb579cda..34580b066 100644
--- a/packages/jupyter-ai/jupyter_ai/personas/persona_manager.py
+++ b/packages/jupyter-ai/jupyter_ai/personas/persona_manager.py
@@ -359,6 +359,12 @@ def get_mentioned_personas(self, new_message: Message) -> list[BasePersona]:
                 persona_list.append(self.personas[mentioned_id])
         return persona_list
 
+    def on_chat_message(self, room_id: str, message: Message):
+        self.route_message(message)
+
+    def on_slash_cmd_message(self, room_id: str, message: Message):
+        self.route_slash_command(message)
+
     def route_message(self, new_message: Message):
         """
         Method that routes an incoming message to the correct personas by