Identification  of  disease  biomarkers  that  can  be  used  for  early  diagnostics  or  monitoring  disease  or  treatment  response;  defining  biological  pathways  and  therapeutic  targets  in  lupus  and  lupus  nephritis;  imaging  of  end-organ  disease  in  lupus and systemic autoimmunity; improved technologies for diagnosing lupus nephritis pathology; various biomedical engineering pilot projects.