Carole LaBonne, a Professor of Molecular Biosciences at Northwestern University, dives deep into the implications of the Trump administration's NIH funding cuts. She discusses how the new 15% cap on indirect costs affects institutional overhead and research. LaBonne highlights the crucial role of indirect funding in fostering innovation and the challenges researchers face in securing grants. The conversation also touches on the competitive landscape between U.S. and Chinese research funding, revealing the urgent need for reform and its broader impact on public health.