EXPERTISE
 Computing




Neural Networks
Multimedia & information extraction
GRID Computing
Language engineering
Contacts
Framework 6 at Surrey
fp6@eim.surrey.ac.uk
http://www.computing.surrey.ac.uk
 Bioinformatics





Gene expression
Metabolomics
Immunology
Bioproduct physiology
Bioelectronics
SELECTED PUBLICATIONS
C. Avignone Rossa, J. White, A. Kuiper, P. W. Postma, M. Bibb and M.
J. Teixeira de Mattos (2002) Carbon Flux Distribution in AntibioticProducing Chemostat Cultures of Streptomyces lividans, Metabolic
Engineering, 4 138-150
Samantha Kirk, Claudio A. Avignone-Rossa, Michael E. Bushell. (2000)
Growth limiting substrate affects antibiotic production and associated
metabolic fluxes in Streptomyces clavuligerus . Biotechnology Letters 22 pp.
1803-1809
Ahmad, Khurshid, Vrusias, Bogdan & Tariq, Mariam. (2002). Cooperative Neural Networks and 'Integrated' Classification. Proceedings of
IJCNN'02, Honolulu, USA, 2002.
Lee Gillam, Khurshid Ahmad, David Dalby, Chris Cox (2002)
Knowledge Exchange and Terminology Interchange: the role of
standards. In proceedings of ASLIB T&C 24. ISBN 0 85142 476 7
Lee Gillam, Khurshid Ahmad and Andrew Salway (2002) Digital
Heritage and the use of Terminology. In Proceedings of TKE 2002
ISBN 2-7261-1217-X
Principal Contact
Department of Computing
School of Biomedical and
Life Sciences
Professor Khurshid Ahmad (Comp)
k.ahmad@surrey.ac.uk
Research Contacts
Lee Gillam (Comp)
l.gillam@surrey.ac.uk
Professor J McFadden (Bio)
j.mcfadden@surrey.ac.uk
Claudio Avignone-Rossa (Bio
C.Avignone-Rossa@surrey.ac.uk
Brendan Howlin (Bio)
B.Howlin@surrey.ac.uk
University of Surrey
Guildford
Surrey, GU2 7XH, UK
Tel: +44 1483 686058
Fax: +44 1483 686051
Collaboration in 6th
Framework Projects
COMPUTING
PROJECTS
Generic Information Decision Agent
(EU).
The link between numerical data and language is
explored for financial market analysis.
Industrial partners: Finsoft, Ibermatica, JRC.
Contact: Khurshid Ahmad
http://www..computing.surrey.ac.uk/ai/gida/
Television In Words (EPSRC)
Information extraction from textual, audio and film
descriptions. Customized audio descriptions for young
and old, and for different languages.
In association with BBC, RMB, ITFC, Softel.
Contact: Andrew Salway.
http://www..computing.surrey.ac.uk/ckm/tiwo_project/Index.html
Scene Of Crime Information System
(EU)
Automatically indexing scene of crime images through
the link between photographs of crime scenes and the
language used by police investigators to describe them.
In association with 5 major UK Police Forces
Contact: Khurshid Ahmad.
http://www..computing.surrey.ac.uk/ai/socis/index.html
Associated Projects

Language Typology Resource Centre (EU)
FUNCTIONAL
GENOMICS
Identification of collaborative opportunities
within UK and EU research frameworks
During the last decade, the UK research councils have
generously funded activities exploring the human
genome and producing gene sequences for over 30
micro-organisms. Funding landscapes of the EPSRC,
BBSRC, and MRC, indicate that future opportunities lie
in the exploitation of genome data for the production of
antibiotics or for improving therapeutic regimens functional genomics is the umbrella term used for these
activities. Functional genomics involves novel ways of
efficiently retrieving and processing large volumes of
data (genome sequences) on which microbial scientists
can test hypotheses relating to innovative bioprocesses
or therapeutic regimens. The efficient retrieval and
processing of such large volumes of data provides an
ideal problem-domain for applications of the emergent
Grid (or Internet II) that the EPSRC/DTI sponsored eScience Centres are keen to fund. Searching the genome
sequence and bioprocess data involves substantial use of
search engines geared specifically to genomic data, which
may involve the use of computing techniques such as
data mining, information extraction and neural
networks. Representation of bio-processes is an area of
keen interest in artificial intelligence – most of the
reported US activities in (post-) genomic sciences rely on
representation of metabolic networks.
COMPUTING
RESEARCH
AREAS
Information Extraction
The Department of Computing is engaged in
research in extracting information from specialist
texts. This research will improve the timeliness and
quality information that is crucial for decisions in an
enterprise.
Recently, the focus has been on
generating reports about financial markets using
information extraction, time series analysis and
neural computing (GIDA). Further research in
information extraction, text summarisation and
neural computing techniques, coupled with
morphological and lexical techniques, give our
demonstrator a unique edge. These techniques are highly
adaptable to analysis of genomic and metabolomic data
Multimedia
Text-based understanding of still and moving images is
essential for managing large collections of such data.
(SOCIS, TIWO). Work with five UK Police Forces has
led to the development of a system to automatically
index images gathered at a scene of crime based on
(spoken) descriptions of crime scene officers. Work
with UK TV enterprises is focussed on the audio
description of moving images. Both projects can significantly
contribute to the understanding and representation of bioprocesses..