Neurolupus is a serious brain disease which affects most patients who suffer from the autoimmune disease systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). It can be very disabling, the cause is not known and treatment options are limited. We want to understand the molecular basis of this condition so we can develop effective markers of the disease and effective treatments. We want to study how the innate immune system, which usually protects the body from viral attack, might “accidentally” damage the brain in neurolupus. We will be looking in neurolupus brains to identify activation of innate immune pathways to try and find drug targets.