The Malaria Program of the Department of Health, Philippines aims to eliminate malaria by 2030. The Malaria Study Group endeavors to work with the Program toward this goal by carrying out research that advances the Program’s efforts.

The RITM Malaria Study Group (MSG) aims to generate knowledge and develop tools and techniques that can support and sustain national and global efforts to prevent, control and eventually eliminate malaria.

The MSG prides itself with its interdisciplinary research approach, and translation of findings into public health practices. Over the years, study sites ranged from Batanes to Tawi-Tawi. MSG research focuses on disease epidemiology and transmission, diagnosis evaluation and improvement, treatment and intervention strategies, socio-cultural determinants of infection and disease, and vector bionomics. In the almost 30 years of its existence, MSG’s most relevant contribution to the national malaria program is on national treatment guidelines; others are early case detection and treatment by community volunteers and village microscopists; blister-packed antimalarials to improve treatment compliance; clinical management, quality control methods for malaria rapid tests; malaria microscopy and quality assurance; vector control management; judicious use of insecticides in public health; monitoring and evaluation of vector control strategies; and detection and documentation of the first human cases of P. knowlesi malaria in the Philippines.

Research Core Group: 
Ferdinand V. Salazar, DAPE, MSc, PhD
Fe Esperanza J. Espino, MD, PhD
Ms. Jennifer Luchavez