Professor Kat Rock

Kat Rock (she/her) Professor  Office: MSB 5:11 Phone: +44 (0)24 76150255 Email:

Teaching Responsibilities 2026/27:

Term 2: MA4M1 Epidemiology by Example

Personal Homepage: https://go.warwick.ac.uk/hatmepp

Research Interests:

I am a mathematical epidemiologist interested in population-level disease dynamics. I have a particular interest in vector-borne transmission and neglected tropical diseases. I am keen on developing new modelling approaches and theory as well as answering highly focused applied research questions which can aid in the control or elimination of diseases.

I currently research and develop models for the vector-borne disease human African trypanosomiasis (HAT), more commonly known as sleeping sickness. I lead a research project, HAT Modelling and Economic Predictions for Policy (HAT MEPP), which aims to inform strategic decision-making around strategies for the elimination of HAT, and is funded by the Gates Foundation (GF). Under this project, an international, multidisciplinary group of mathematical modellers and economists work together with other researchers and six national programmes to assess local elimination strategies and provide cost-effectiveness analyses.

I formerly worked as part of the Neglected Tropical Disease (NTD) Modelling Consortium. Using novel mathematical models fitted to human case data from various endemic foci, my aim on the project was to assess the likelihood that the World Health Organization's goals of elimination as a public health problem by 2020 and elimination of transmission by 2030 would be met for this disease. I have also evaluated the relative effectiveness of complementary strategies in addition to typical medical interventions such as vector control, improved passive screening and targeting high-risk groups in screening.

Some of the other diseases I have worked on are:

- Zika
- Malaria
- Visceral leishmaniasis
- Avian malaria in the Hawaiian honeycreeper

Recent research grants:

• HAT Modelling and Economic Predictions for Policy (HAT MEPP 3) with Louise Dyson, Simon Spencer, Cagatay Turkay, and Jason Madan. Funded by: Gates Foundation (2024–2028)
• HAT Modelling and Economic Predictions for Policy (HAT MEPP 2) with Matt Keeling, Jason Madan, Simon Spencer and Louise Dyson Funded by: Gates Foundation (2020–2024)
• Neglected Tropical Disease (NTD) Modelling Consortium with Matt Keeling, Simon Spencer and Orin Courtney, Funded by: Gates Foundation (2017–2021)
• HAT Modelling and Economic Predictions for Policy (HAT MEPP) with Matt Keeling, Jason Madan, Funded by: Gates Foundation (2017–2021)