Funded Cyber Security Projects

Closed-Box Inference of LLMs: Dual-Channel Probing, Traffic Analysis, and Fingerprinting (UK and US Defence)

This project infers hidden properties of LLMs without direct access, using dual-channel probing, traffic analysis, and fingerprinting. to identify, classify, and attribute LLMs for security and verification purposes.

Detecting LLM-Generated Text: Integrating Linguistic, Sequential, and Network Modelling (Extended Project - Alan Turing Insitute  - UK Defence and Security)

This project uses a multi-layer framework that combines linguistic cues, sequence patterns, and network structures to detect text generated by large language models.

Model-Agnostic Detection of Synthetic Data - Alan Turing Institute (UK Defence and Security)

Developing model-agnostic statistical tests to detect synthetic data using conformal prediction, uncertainty estimation, and a mixture-of-experts framework.

Synthetic Data Detection for Text, Image and Video (Extended Project - Alan Turing Insitute  - UK Defence and Security)

Developing an XAI-based system to detect synthetic text, images, and videos using uncertainty, counterfactuals, and multi-modal AI that enhances robustness against evolving generative models, aiding cybersecurity, digital forensics, and public trust in online content.

LLM-Facilitated and Graph-Based Analysis of Relationships Between Organisations - Alan Turing Institute (NCSC)

This project (led by University of Kent, where we are Co-I) looks at relationships between organisations and their cyber security threats/risks using graph-based methods and other analytical techniques.

Enhancing Resilience Against AI-powered Cyber Attacks - British Academy

The pump-priming project aims to enhance critical infrastructure security through adaptive threat detection, real-time anomaly analysis, and AI-driven decision-making. Agent-based LLMs will enable dynamic monitoring, while Generative AI predicts attack patterns and hardware security strengthens defences.

Child Sexual Abuse Conversation Dataset - REPHRAIN (UKRI)

Developing the first CSAC (child sexual abuse conversation) dataset to advance research, detection tools, education, and law enforcement capabilities against online child grooming.

Intelligent Vulnerability Scanner and Penetration Test Report Generator - Lockheed Martin Space (USA)

Developing a tool to identify network vulnerabilities using existing scanning tools and offensive tools and an optimised AI model to detect cyber intrusions, leveraging ChatGPT to generate automated pen-testing/vulnerability reports.

IoT Botnet and Malware Detection in Smart Buildings - Orkana, UK

The project explores to develop an intelligent botnet/malware detection for smart buildings with IoT devices through Federated Learning and Blockchain.

AI-based Intelligent Multi-Stage and User-Centric Ransomware Attack Detection - Office for Students

Developing a multi-stage ransomware detection system using optimized machine learning, predictive algorithms, and heuristic graph-based user behavior analysis.

Human-guided collaborative multi-objective design of explainable and privacy-preserving AI (HarmonicAI) - Horizon Europe

HarmonicAI develops multi-objective AI models, balancing explainability, fairness, and privacy with human-in-the-loop design for trustworthy AI.

DCitizens: Fostering Digital Civics Research and Innovation in Lisbon - European Union

DCitizens fosters Digital Civics in Lisbon, empowering citizens through technology to co-create, shape agendas, and ensure sustainable service provision.

“How Do Children Visualise Trust Online?” A TAPESTRY (Trust & Privacy over Decentralised Social Registry) - EPSRC

TAPESTRY leverages digital interactions to redefine trust online, enabling safer connections.

Understanding and Mitigating Privacy Risks in IoT Homes with Demand-Side Management - PETRAS IoT Centre of Excellence

This project explores digital harms in home IoT devices, smart meters etc., and develop tools to improve users’ situational awareness and agency.

Key2Kindness: An adaptive cross-platform “in the moment” hate speech detection and awareness mechanism - REPHRAIN (UKRI)

A project that explores the adaptive hate speech awareness in reducing hate speech across online platforms.

Centre for Digital Citizens - EPSRC

The Centre for Digital Citizens (CDC) will address emerging challenges of digital citizenship, taking an inclusive, participatory approach to the design and evaluation of new technologies and services that support 'smart', 'data-rich' living in urban, rural and coastal communities.

Cyber Security Risks of Digital Hoarding Behaviours - CREST (Centre for Research and Evidence on Security Threats)

This project examines digital hoarding behaviors, their psychological traits, and associated cybersecurity risks in organizations.

RHED-C (Remote Healthcare for Eating Disorders throughout COVID-19) - Medical Research Foundation Fellowship

This research project is dedicated to understanding the impact of COVID-19 on the treatment of Eating Disorders (EDs).

Additive Micro/Nano-Manufacturing of Structured Piezoelectric Active Materials for Intelligent Stent Monitoring - EPSRC

To create smart stents using ANM of multi-functional components for smart sensing/monitoring and to explore vital signals through AI based data analytics (with secure architecture).

Funded Cyber Security Projects

PI/Co-I Project name Start date End date Funder
Issac Cyber Defence and Ethical Hacking (Advanced Training Course) 2025 2026 NATO, Belgium
Issac Closed-Box Inference of Large Language Models: Dual-Channel Probing, Traffic Analysis, and Quantization-Aware Fingerprinting 2025 2026 Alan Turing Insitute (UK and US National Defence and Security)
Issac A Multi-Layer Structural Framework for Detecting LLM-Generated Text: Integrating Linguistic, Sequential, and Network Modelling with Transformer Fusion (NOTE: Phase 3 of “Model-Agnostic Detection of Synthetic Data Using Uncertainty-Enhanced Non-Conformity Measures: A Mixture-of-Experts Approach” project) 2025 2026 Alan Turing Insitute (UK Defence and Security)
Issac Empowering Girls through Ethical Hacking in North-East England 2025 2026 DSIT – Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (Innovate UK)
Issac Synthetic Data Detection for Text, Image and Video (NOTE: Phase 2 of “Model-Agnostic Detection of Synthetic Data Using Uncertainty-Enhanced Non-Conformity Measures: A Mixture-of-Experts Approach” project) 2025 2025 Alan Turing Insitute (UK Defence and Security)
Issac Enhancing Resilience Against AI-powered Cyber Attacks through Adaptive threat and Anomaly detection 2025 2025 The British Academy
Issac LLM-Facilitated and Graph-Based Analysis of Relationships Between Organisations (NOTE: The project is led by University of Kent) 2025 2025 Alan Turing Insitute (National Cyber Security Centre)
Issac Model-Agnostic Detection of Synthetic Data Using Uncertainty-Enhanced Non-Conformity Measures: A Mixture-of-Experts Approach 2024 2025 Alan Turing Insitute (UK Defence and Security)
Anderson Child Sexual Abuse Conversation Dataset: https://www.rephrain.ac.uk/csac/ 2023 2024 REPHRAIN, UKRI
Issac Intelligent Vulnerability Scanner and Penetration Test Report Generator 2023 2024 Lockheed Martin Space, USA
Issac IoT Botnet and Malware Detection in Smart Buildings through Artificial Intelligence (Collaborative/Industry PhD Studentship) 2023 2026 Orkana, UK
Issac AI-based Intelligent Multi-Stage and User-Centric Ransomware Attack Detection (Pro:NE BAME Studentship) 2023 2026 Office for Students (Pro:NE is a network created by 5 universities including Northumbria)
Aslam Human-guided collaborative multi-objective design of explainable, fair and privacy-preserving AI for digital health (HarmonicAI). 2023 2027 Horizon Europe Marie Sklodowska Curie Actions Staff Exchanges
Briggs DCitizens: Fostering Digital Civics Research and Innovation in Lisbon: https://dcitizens.eu/ 2022 2025 EU
Yang AI technologies for additive manufacturing of dental aligners: https://info.ktponline.org.uk/action/details/partnership.aspx?id=13018.  NOTE: This project has information processing infrastructure with cybersecurity focus. 2022 2024 Knowledge Transfer Partnerships (KTP)
Branley-Bell “How Do Children Visualise Trust in the Online Environment?” A TAPESTRY (Trust and Privacy over a Decentralised Social Registry) Seedcorn. 2020 2021 EPSRC, UKRI
Branley-Bell RIICE project (Remote Intervention to measure Chewing Efficiency, www.riiceproject.uk). NOTE: Remote healthcare intervention, including addressing privacy, cybersecurity design requirements, including secure and tailored data sharing. 2022 2025 EPSRC, UKRI
Branley-Bell Remote Healthcare throughout COVID-19 (RHED-C, www.rhedc.uk); NOTE: A remote healthcare ‘digital toolkit’ for healthcare service providers that includes data ownership and secure, ethical data sharing between stakeholders. 2021 2024 Medical Research Foundation Fellowship
Nicholson Understanding and Mitigating Privacy Risks in IoT Homes with Demand-Side Management: https://petras-iot.org/project/understanding-and-mitigating-privacy-risks-of-iot-homes-with-demand-side-management-priviot/  2021 2023 PETRAS IoT Centre of Excellence
Nicholson Holistic Toolkit for Security Culture Change 2021 2021 SBRI (Cabinet Office)
Nicholson IoT Automated Intrusion Detection with Human-in-the-Loop (Innovate UK – funded SYNERGIA T1.3). Subcontracted. 2021 2021 Toshiba TREL
Issac Key2Kindness: An adaptive cross-platform “in the moment” hate speech detection and awareness mechanism 2021 2022 REPHRAIN Research Centre on Privacy, Harm Reduction & Adversarial Influence Online (UKRI)
Nicholson Work from Home Private Wellbeing Monitoring 2021 2023 Knowledge Transfer Partnerships (KTP)
Briggs Centre for Digital Citizens (EP/T0022582/1): https://gow.epsrc.ukri.org/NGBOViewGrant.aspx?GrantRef=EP/T022582/1 2020 2025 EPSRC, UKRI
Khelifi Video forensics for source smartphone identification, video content authentication, and forgery detection (NPRP12s-0312-190332). 2020 2023 Qatar Science Foundation, Qatar National Research Fund
Oswald COVID-19: Observatory for Monitoring Data-Driven Approaches to COVID-19 (OMDDAC): https://hosting.northumbria.ac.uk/omddac/ NOTE: It recommends a consultation to secure data sharing & analysis. 2020 2021 UKRI
Oswald Implications of Emerging Privacy Enhancing Technologies for UK Surveillance Policy. 2020 2021 Royal United Services Institute for Defence and Security Studies (UKRI)
Khelifi Detection of covert communications in untrusted channels (NPRP11S-0113-180276). 2019 2022 Qatar Science Foundation, Qatar National Research Fund
Briggs Reimagining security awareness training (awarded Nov 2018) 2019 2019 Innovate UK
Nicholson Creating and Understanding Cybersecurity Guardians in Communities 2019 2020 EPSRC Network Plus on Technology and Social Justice
Oswald Research: Future policy relating to the use of AI for national security purposes. 2019 2020 Royal United Services Institute for Defence and Security Studies (UKRI)
Briggs Academic Centre of Excellence in Cyber Security Research – University of Northumbria at Newcastle: https://gow.epsrc.ukri.org/NGBOViewGrant.aspx?GrantRef=EP/T009543/1. 2019 2024 EPSRC, UKRI
Yang Big Data Analytics for Anomaly Traffic Identification 2018 2020 Royal Academy of Engineering
Vickers Institute of Coding (IoC) funding for the establishment of Cyber Clinic, Teach the Nation to Code, Cyber Security Student Conference and Computing workshops: https://www.northumbria.ac.uk/about-us/academic-departments/computer-and-information-sciences/business/institute-of-coding/ 2018 2021 Institute of Coding (IoC)
Fehringer Improved Interoperability and Data Sharing on the Internet of Things. NOTE: REF2021 Impact Case Study (ICS ID 087): https://ref2021-resultsapp-live.azurewebsites.net/impact/47e7f53d-b42d-4801-bb2b-1328c14b84e6 2017 2019 Knowledge Transfer Partnerships (KTP), Innovate UK with Adlink Ltd
Yang Practical Cybersecurity insights for Computer Science Students 2017 2018 RAEng
Neave The Cyber Security Risks of Digital Hoarding: https://crestresearch.ac.uk/projects/cyber-security-risks-digital-hoarding/ 2017 2018 CREST/EPSRC
Briggs Cybeco: Supporting Cyberinsurance from a Behavioural Choice Perspective. Grant No 740920. https://www.cybeco.eu/ 2017 2020 EU 2020
Briggs cSALSA: Cybersecurity across the Lifespan EP/P011446/1 2017 2020 ESRC, UKRI
Briggs CRITiCaL – Combatting cRiminals In The CLoud 2015 2023 EPSRC, UKRI
Briggs Digital Economy Research Centre 2015 2020 EPSRC, UKRI
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