Warren S Comulada

Warren S Comulada is a Professor-in-Residence in the Department of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA. His work bridges biostatistics, HIV research, and digital health technologies, with a focus on developing innovative interventions for vulnerable populations.

Educational Background:

• DrPH in Biostatistics from UCLA (2006)
• MS in Biostatistics from UCLA (2000)
• MPH in Biostatistics from Loma Linda University (1998)
• BS in Biophysics from Pacific Union College (1993)

Dr. Comulada's research centers on the application of artificial intelligence, machine learning, and digital health technologies to HIV prevention, substance use treatment, and healthcare delivery. He has pioneered the development of chatbots, conversational agents, and virtual reality platforms to improve patient-provider communication, enhance prevention efforts, and expand access to care for marginalized populations, particularly youth at risk for or living with HIV. His methodological expertise in biostatistics and longitudinal data analysis supports rigorous evaluation of complex behavioral interventions.

Analysis of Dr. Comulada's recent publication record reveals a significant shift toward integrating advanced AI technologies, particularly large language models like GPT-4, into healthcare interventions. His work spans from developing SMS-based chatbots for PrEP adherence to creating sophisticated virtual simulated patient platforms for medical training. A consistent theme across his research is the application of machine learning to predict health outcomes and identify risk factors among vulnerable populations, with particular attention to the intersection of HIV, substance use, and mental health.

Dr. Comulada has secured substantial research funding from NIH institutes including NIDA and NCI for projects such as:

• A conversational agent to support remote care for individuals with substance use disorder (NIDA R44DA050218)
• Development of a virtual platform for primary care physicians to rehearse conversations with patients who have an abnormal mammogram (NCI 3P30CA016042-47S3)
• An mHealth platform for health care workers to link South Africans to HIV care (NIH R21MH106351)
• Predicting HIV-related Behaviors of Social Networks in a MPS Environment (NIH K01MH089270)

His research is conducted through UCLA's Semel Institute Center for Community Health, where he collaborates with interdisciplinary teams spanning public health, computer science, and clinical medicine to develop and evaluate digital health interventions that address critical gaps in HIV care and prevention. Dr. Comulada maintains an active research program with over 10 publications annually in recent years, demonstrating sustained productivity and relevance in his field.