LSU President William F. Tate IV released a statement Tuesday in response to the proposed funding policy changes to the National Institutes of Health’s budget for biomedical research.

The statement comes after President Donald Trump’s attempt to change the NIH policy for indirect costs to 15%, cutting down the investment in research for illnesses and cures. This decrease would also impact several research institutions and grant recipients, including LSU.

“These funds cover essential research costs—laboratories, equipment, utilities, compliance, and, most importantly, the researchers themselves,” Tate said. “Without sufficient support, life-saving discoveries will stall, and research institutions across the state and nation will face crippling financial shortfalls.”

Changes to the NIH funding were announced Friday. A federal judge halted any changes to the funding policy Monday after 22 states filed suit against the new NIH policy.

“For institutions like Louisiana State University (LSU), which holds approximately $192 million in NIH funding, research that generates $550 million in economic impact for Louisiana, this decision delivers a direct financial blow to local efforts,” Tate said.

Tate’s full statement can be found here.