Current Research Projects

09/21-present

L. Gallo: Co-Investigator; Examining the Effectiveness of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy in the treatment of Co-Morbid Chronic Pain and Opioid Dependence in Patients in Outpatient Buprenorphine Treatment.

RM1DA055437 (PI: Starrels/Gabbay)                       

09/01/21-08/31/23                                                  

NIH                                                                             

$9,201,464 

Integrated Care for Chronic Pain and Opioid Use Disorder: The IMPOWR Research Center at Montefiore/Einstein (IMPOWR-ME) 

The IMPOWR Research Center at Montefiore-Einstein (IMPOWR-ME) is a multidisciplinary and synergistic program of research to test multimodal treatments that address both chronic pain and opioid use disorder. 

08/22- present

L. Gallo, Research Mentor

Acceptance Commitment Therapy (ACT) mentor on IMPOWR-ME pilot project.  

 Andrea Jakubowski, MD, MS Division of General Internal Medicine at Albert Einstein College of Medicine/Montefiore Medical Center was awarded the IMPOWR-ME pilot grant.  This project is focusing on adapting Acceptance and Commitment Therapy to be delivered by Opioid Treatment Program counselors to people suffering from comorbid chronic pain and opioid use disorder.  The ACT therapy manual created by Bhambhani & Gallo (2024) for the larger IMPOWR-ME2 Clinical Trial is being utilized.

Gallo, L., Bhambhani, Y., Gulamhussein, Q., Nauphal, M., Lopez-Castro, T., Sabado, A., Jakubowski, A., & Gabbay, V. Training substance use counselors in delivering Acceptance and Commitment Therapy in opioid treatment programs for comorbid chronic pain and opioid use disorder. Manuscript in preparation

Bhambhani, Y., Gallo, L., McNamara, E. O., Stotts, A. L., & Gabbay, V. (2025). Persisting with purpose: Using acceptance and commitment therapy to target comorbid opioid use disorder and chronic pain in a racially and economically marginalized population. Journal of Contextual Behavioral Science, 36, 100888.

Gallo, L., Bhambhani, Y., Lu, T., Holzman, S., Bao, Y., Musicaro, R., Roske, C., Richard, J. T., Delgado, G. E., Baker, Z., Starrels, J., Stotts, A., Deng, Y., Rodgers, C. R. R., Perez, H. R., Norton, B. T., & Gabbay, V. (2025). A randomized trial evaluating Acceptance and Commitment Therapy and smart phone care management application to augment buprenorphine therapy for opioid use and chronic pain. Substance Use & Addiction Journal, 46(1), 166-174.

Siber-Sanderowitz, S., Gallo, L. (2023). From Pathways to Partnerships: Building Patient-Centered 

Clinical Tracks (PCCT) in Outpatient Community Mental Health Settings. Community Mental Health Journal. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10597-023-01214-x

DeLapp, R.C.T & Gallo, L. (2022). A Flexible Treatment Planning Model for Racism-related Stress in 

Adolescents and Young Adults. Journal of Health Service Psychology, 48; 161-173. 

https://doi.org/10.1007/s42843-022-00073-6

Siber-Sanderowitz S, Limowski AR, Gallo L, Schneider M, Pimentel S, Mueller S, Rego S, Alpert J. 

(2022) Mobilizing a psychiatric crisis response to COVID-19 for NYC hospital workers: Lessons learned from the mental health front lines. Gen Hosp Psychiatry; 74:141-143. 

doi: 10.1016/j.genhosppsych.2021.12.005

Bhambhani, Y., & Gallo, L. (2021). Developing and Adapting a Mindfulness-Based Group Intervention 

for Racially and Economically Marginalized Patients in the Bronx. Cognitive and Behavioral Practice. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cbpra.2021.04.010

Cahill, S. P., Gallo, L., Lisman, S. A., & Weinstein, A. (2006). Willing or Able?: The meanings of self-efficacy. Journal of Social and Clinical Psychology, 25, 196-209.

Gallo, L., Jakubowski, A., Gulamhussein, Q., Nauphal, M., Lopez-Castro, T., Sabbado, A., & Bhambhani, Y. (2024, July 25-28). Acceptability and Feasibility of Training OTP Counselors in Providing Acceptance and Commitment Therapy [Symposium Presentation]. Association for Contextual Behavioral Science World Conference, Buenos Aires, Argentina. 

Gallo, L., Bhambhani, Y., Holzman, S., Perez, H. R., & Gabbay, V. (2024, July 25-28). Implementing a Culturally Responsive Acceptance and Commitment Therapy Group Protocol in Primary Care for Patients suffering from OUD and CP: Initial Findings [Symposium Presentation]. Association for Contextual Behavioral Science World Conference, Buenos Aires, Argentina. 

Siber-Sanderowitz, S, & Gallo, L. (2024, July 25-28).   Community Context: Integrating a Structural Competence Approach with ACT to Improve Treatment for Substance Use Disorders.  [Symposium Presentation]. Association for Contextual Behavioral Science World Conference, Buenos Aires, Argentina.