Anna Roca is an infectious disease Epidemiologist with significant experience leading research groups in Africa. She did her PhD at the University of Barcelona and her MSc in Epidemiology at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine. Dr Roca recently joined the MRC Unit, The Gambia, as the Unit Epidemiologist after serving two years (seconded by the CRESIB/IDIBAPS -University of Barcelona) as a Principal Investigator of the Sibanor Vaccine Trial. She leads an independent line of research focused on the dynamics of pneumococcal carriage pre and post pneumococcal vaccine introduction. She also provides epidemiological support to the Unit.
Scientific interest: For over 10 years, Dr Roca has worked on the etiology of pneumonia and meningitis with the bridge between the Epidemiologist design and Diagnostic Laboratory. In addition, she has been working on biomarkers to diagnose pneumonia in operational conditions in Africa. More recently, her interest has been focused on the transmission dynamics of pneumococcal infections and the effect of interventions on pneumococcail carriage with special emphasis on vaccines. In addition, Dr Roca has a growing interest on the interactions between bacterial carriage and other co-morbidities prevalent in Africa.
Recent publications:
- Ibarz AB, Soriano M, Morais L, Mandomando I, Quinto Ll, Sigauque B, Alonso PL and Roca A. Epidemiology, molecular characterization and antibiotic resistance of Neisseria meningitidis from patients <15 years in Manhiça, rural Mozambique. PLoS ONE 2011.
- O’Callaghan-Gordo C, Bassat Q, Morais L, Diez-Padrisa N, Machevo S, Nhampossa T, Nhalungo D, Sanz S, Quinto L, Alonso PL and Roca A. Etiology and Epidemiology of Viral Pneumonia Among Hospitalized Children in Rural Mozambique: A Malaria Endemic Area With High Prevalence of Human Immunodeficiency Virus. Pediatr Infect Dis J 2011.
- Nair H, Nokes DJ, Gessner BD, Dherani M, Madhi SA, Singleton RJ, O’Brien KL, Roca A, Wright PF, Bruce N, Chandran A, Theodoratou E, Sutanto A, Sedyaningsih ER, Ngama M, Munywoki PK, Kartasasmita C, Simoes EA, Rudan I, Weber MW and Campbell H. Global burden of acute lower respiratory infections due to respiratory syncytial virus in young children: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Lancet 2010
- Diez-Padrisa N, Bassat Q, Machevo S, Quinto L, Morais L, Nhampossa T, O’Callaghan-Gordo C, Torres A, Alonso PL and Roca A. Procalcitonin and C-reactive protein for invasive bacterial pneumonia diagnosis among children in Mozambique, a malaria-endemic area. PLoS One 2010.
- Roca A, Sigauque B, Quinto L, Morais L, Berenguera A, Corachan M, Ribo JL, Naniche D, Bassat Q, Sacoor C, Nhalungo D, Macete E, Schuchat A, Soriano-Gabarro M, Flannery B and Alonso PL. Estimating the vaccine-preventable burden of hospitalized pneumonia among young Mozambican children. Vaccine 2010.
