Rose has been based at the Shoklo Malaria Research Unit since June 1994, heading the Maternal and Child Health (MCH) Department and holding the post of Professor of Tropical Maternal and Child Health (Oxford University) since 2014. Rose is a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (UK) since 2008, and Educational Consultant to the Bangkok School of Tropical Medicine since 2013.

Most research in the SMRU-MCH department has concentrated on detailed, prospective longitudinal cohorts with follow up from early pregnancy to the age of one (up to four years). These have increased our understanding of : malaria and antimalarials; tropical infections common in SE Asia; pregnancy morbidity such as anemia; nutrition; quality and practice of care by skilled birth attendants; at this vulnerable stage of life. With more than 70,000 pregnant women registered to SMRU antenatal clinics, a reversal of childbirth from home to clinic based care; SMRU has built up a significant experience of the challenges of pregnancy and infancy in rural and remote areas. Significant reductions in maternal and neonatal mortality have been achieved by SMRU however they remain unacceptably high. Reducing rates still further will be the hardest part but the team, buoyed by old and new members locally and internationally, will persevere