Grzegorz (Greg) Bulaj
Associate Professor of Medicinal Chemistry and Adjunct Assistant Professor of Anesthesiology
Molecular-Behavioral Combination Therapies, Digital Therapeutics, Mobile Medical Apps, Epilepsy, Pain, Depression, Cancer

Biological Chemistry Program
Education
M.Sc. University of Wroclaw, Poland
Ph.D. University of Wroclaw, Poland
Research
The long-term goal of our research is to develop drug-device combination therapies which simultaneously target a disease at molecular and behavioral levels. The molecular-behavioral combination therapies consist of pharmaceutical drugs and disease self-management content which is delivered via digital therapeutics (software as a medical device, or SaMD). This strategy aims to improve both therapy outcomes and medication adherence for chronically-ill patients. Our research includes creating digital content for SaMD to be combined with antiseizure drugs. Examples of our collaborative projects include: (1) an exercise-empowerment mobile game therapy for pediatric oncology patients, and (2) mobile software for people with epilepsy.
References
- Rohaj A and Bulaj G (2023) Digital Therapeutics (DTx) Expand Multimodal Treatment Options for Chronic Low Back Pain: The Nexus of Precision Medicine, Patient Education, and Public Health. Healthcare. 11, 1469. https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare11101469
- Giravi HY, Biskupiak Z, Tyler LS, Bulaj G (2022) Adjunct Digital Interventions Improve Opioid-based Pain Management: Impact of Virtual Reality and Mobile Applications on Patient-Centered Pharmacy Care. Front Digital Health 4:884047 https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fdgth.2022.884047/full
- Bulaj G, Clark J, Ebrahimi M and Bald E (2021) From Precision Metapharmacology to Patient Empowerment: Delivery of Self-Care Practices for Epilepsy, Pain, Depression and Cancer Using Digital Health Technologies. Front. Pharmacol. 12:612602. https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fphar.2021.612602/full
- Metcalf CS, Huntsman M, Garcia G, Kochanski AK, Chikinda M, Wanatabe E, Underwood T, Vanegas F, Smith MD, HS White, Bulaj G (2019) Music-enhanced Analgesia and Antiseizure Activities in Animal Models of Pain and Epilepsy: Towards Preclinical Studies Supporting Development of Digital Therapeutics and their Combinations with Pharmaceutical Drugs. Front Neurol. 10:277. https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fneur.2019.00277/full
- Afra P, Bruggers CS, Sweney M, Fagatele L, Alavi F, Greenwald M, Huntsman M, Nguyen K, Jones JK, Shantz D and Bulaj G (2018) Mobile Software as a Medical Device (SaMD) for the Treatment of Epilepsy: Development of Digital Therapeutics Comprising Behavioral and Music-Based Interventions for Neurological Disorders. Front. Hum. Neurosci.12:171.www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fnhum.2018.00171/full
- Bruggers CS, Baranowski S, Besaris M, Leonard R, Long D, Schulte E, Shorter A, Stigner R, Mason CC Alisa Bedrov A, Ian Pascual I,Bulaj G (2018) A Prototype Exercise-Empowerment Mobile Video Game for Children with Cancer, and its Usability Assessment: Developing Digital Empowerment Interventions for Pediatric Diseases, Front Pediatrics 6:69. www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fped.2018.00069/full
- Schriewer K and Bulaj G(2016) Music Streaming Services as Adjunct Therapies for Depression, Anxiety and Bipolar Symptoms: Convergence of Digital Technologies, Mobile Apps, Emotions, and Global Mental Health.Front Publ Health. 4: 217. www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2016.00217/full
- Bulaj G, Ahern MM, Kuhn A, Judkins ZS, Bowen RC, Chen Y. (2016) Incorporating Natural Products, Pharmaceutical Drugs, Self-care and Digital/Mobile Health Technologies into Molecular-Behavioral Combination Therapies for Chronic Diseases. Curr Clin Pharmacol11: 1-18http://www.eurekaselect.com/142876
- Govender M, Bowen RC, German ML, Bulaj G, Bruggers CS (2015) Clinical and Neurobiological Perspectives of Empowering Pediatric Cancer Patients Using Videogames. Games Health J. 4: 1-13 http://online.liebertpub.com/doi/pdfplus/10.1089/g4h.2015.0014
- Bulaj G (2014) Combining non-pharmacological treatments with pharmacotherapies for neurological disorders: a unique interface of the brain, drug–device, and intellectual property. Front Neurol. 5: 126www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fneur.2014.00126/full
- Bruggers CS, Altizer RA, Kessler RR, Caldwell CB, Coppersmith K, Warner L, Davies B, Paterson W, Wilcken J, D'Ambrosio TA, German ML,Hanson GR, Gershan LA, Korenberg JR, Bulaj G (2012) Patient-empowerment interactive technologies. Sci Transl Med. 4(152): 152ps16 http://stm.sciencemag.org/content/4/152/152ps16.full