MultiMedia Information Retrieval for Biological Research

University Of Washington, Seattle WA

Investigators

Abstract

Multimedia Information Retrieval for Biological Research PI: Linda G. Shapiro, Co-PI: James F. Brinkley, III and Dan Suciu University of Washington Washington University is award a grant to develop a unified methodology for organization and retrieval of biological data, in particular, image data and related measurements from scientific experiments. The work will build on existing work in experiment management, approximate queries, and content-based image retrieval. A probabilistic query framework for multimedia data will be developed that provides users with a unified way to access multiple types of data. Queries will be able to handle both single data types and multiple related data types, such as registered CT and MRI scans or neuronal firing patterns and related fMRI data. The data will be organized in a way that is both easy for users to understand and efficient for query access. A prototype system will be built and evaluated on three different biological applications. The results of this work will be a new paradigm for multimedia information retrieval that satisfies the needs of biological research. The broader impacts of the research will be the use of these storage and retrieval techniques in groundbreaking biological research in a wide variety of areas where image and other multimedia data are critical to the research. Biologists will be able to organize and access their data to perform major analyses and to provide new insights into their work. Students will be involved in the research. The PI is mentoring young women and encourages them to embark in a computer science career.