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Type of Resource (primo): dissertations
Name: Personal
Name: Personal
Name: Personal
Name: Personal
Name: Corporate
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Note: thesis: Thesis (Sc. M.)--Brown University, 2025
Genre (aat): theses
Abstract: MBapp+ is a digital therapeutic smartphone app developed at the Women and Infants Hospital of Rhode Island under Dr. Adam Lewkowitz in collaboration with Brown University. The app was designed to prevent and treat postpartum depression (PPD), using an evidence-based cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) program uniquely adapted from the Mothers and Babies in-person curriculum. MBapp+ incorporates interactive modules, ecological momentary assessments, dynamic educational materials, and personalized progress tracking to improve engagement and support better treatment outcomes. Currently, the app is in development and available for research use. This thesis proposes a path to commercialization for MBapp+, providing an integrated analysis of key business development considerations and a potential go-to-market strategy. It outlines the prevalence and burden of PPD, the challenges of existing pharmacological and psychotherapeutic treatments, and the urgent need for accessible, evidence-based, non-pharmacological options. The PPD treatment market is assessed while emphasizing the overall potential of digital therapeutics. The app’s development process is explored, including a qualitative study that resulted in end-user feedback to iteratively refine the app and inform the addition of new features. Competitive analysis reveals an opportunity for MBapp+ to differentiate itself through its unique ability to deliver psychotherapy specifically for PPD patients. The financial model proposes a hybrid commercialization strategy beginning with direct-to-consumer distribution to establish traction, followed by payer partnerships to ensure scalability and equitable access. Following this, market adoption and revenue projections are estimated for the first three years after commercialization to demonstrate commercial viability and inform strategic planning. Regulatory considerations acknowledge the app’s classification within a lower-risk digital therapeutic category but highlight the importance of rigorous clinical validation to support payor and provider acceptance. The intellectual property strategy protects MBapp+’s innovations by safeguarding its creative content, proprietary methods, and brand identity through copyrights and trademarks. This comprehensive commercialization roadmap aims to translate MBapp+ from a research prototype into a widely accessible, effective, and sustainable digital therapeutic for maternal mental health care.
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