Tuberculosis is a leading cause of death at this time. The study, funded by a life insurance company, aims to understand causation, test treatment methods, implement prevention strategies, and "organize the community for disease prevention and health creation." Framingham is identified as the optimal site because "it represent[s] a typical American community".
The implementation of this programming paves the way for the Framingham Heart Study years later. Changes made to the public health system in Framingham also helps protect residents from the flu pandemic that arrives only a couple of years later.