The aim of the program is to conduct studies that help reduce mortality and morbidity due to diarrhea. Since formation in 1982, the program continues to provide relevant data for the National Control Program (CDD) through its community- and laboratory-based researches. The community-based studies focused on interventions on infant feeding specifically the promotion of breastfeeding, improved weaning practices; foods and fluids taken during diarrhea; factors affecting food intake during diarrhea; and, the acceptability of rice-based and flavored glucose-based oral rehydration solutions.

With the promotion of breastfeeding as a preventive measure against diarrhea, its effect on growth beyond 12 months was explored including analysis of growth of bacteria of stored breastmilk. Other breastfeeding projects include among its target groups the working mothers in the community and workplace (establishment of RITM as a mother- and baby-friendly workplace).

Moreover, in 1996, the research program group was part of the team, which conducted the last Third Country Training Program in the Laboratory Diagnosis of Diarrheal Diseases and HIV Infection funded by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA). Aside from conducting studies addressing the issues on: epidemiology and etiology; diagnosis; case management in the home and health facility; prevention program; and, evaluation, the group also conducted other non-diarrhea projects on community assessment of natural food sources of vitamin A and focused ethnographic study (FES).

To date, the investigators are working on a study to evaluate the impact of the Baby-friendly Hospital Initiative program on the exclusivity and duration of breastfeeding; and, development of an intervention to promote breastfeeding among working mothers in an urban Philippine setting. Other research plans include: 1) a qualitative study on street vendors and their behaviors that contribute to danger or safety of street foods; 2) design and testing of an intervention study on dietary management of acute diarrhea in home; 3) assessment of the impact of the National CDD Programme on the country's diarrheal morbidity; and, 4) further studies on the laboratory detection of important enteric pathogens.