There is active ongoing research in several theoretical areas of bioinformatics, most importantly: development of methods for analysis/comparison of protein structures as well as methods for studies on structure evolution; modelling of gene regulatory networks and development of methods for analysis of network behaviour, stability etc. as well as methods for modelling gene network evolution.

On a more practical level bioinformatics group specializes in development of advanced software and database systems for storage and analysis of biomolecular data obtained from high-throughput technologies. One of the largest projects in this field is SIMBioMS: a web-based software system developed for collection, storage, management and retrieval of data and infor mation about patients and biomedical samples as well as experiment results obtained using various platforms. SIMBioMS initially was developed as a data exchange system for use in EU FP6 project MolPAGE (main emphasis on studies of type 2 diabetes and other metabolic diseases) and has been later adapted for several other applications, including EU FP7 project ENGAGE.

Online data warehouse for medical research (Latvia)

Read more: http://bioinf.mii.lu.lv/

Image processing, analyze and machine vision systems; graph theory, algorithms and graph drawings are important research areas for the Institute. Research is being conducted at several levels: theoretical (topological graph theory) and practical (graphs in bioinformatics). The development of rain sensor (automatically controlled cleaning equipment for a plate surface) and fake coins detector are the most important successes in the field of visual information processing. Researches in graph drawing helped to create Graph-Drawing tools for GRADE and Exigen Business Modeler. Successful cooperation has lasted for years with Tom Sawyer Software Corporation (USA). The Institute creates graph layout algorithms for company.

 

The research in this area continues from 1980s. The most important achievement is one of the most up-to-date in the world system modelling tool GRADE (created in cooperation with German company Infologistik GmbH 1990 -2000). GRADE is still unmatched system for managing very large graph-like diagrams.

Currently, research goes on by using a model-driven techniques for software design. We have introduced a model- and model transformation-based system and tool building approach called the Transformation-Driven Architecture, TDA. The following tools have been developed recently using the principles of TDA:

  • OWLGrEd (Editor for Compact UML-style OWL Graphic Notation)
  • ViziQuer (Structured Semantic Data Search Tool)
  • GradeTwo (UML diagram editor).
Special languages for model transformation and transformation based tools aimed at complex system modelling and design are being developed. One such language is MOLA - a graphical MOdel transformation LAnguage.