Leading Through Tumultuous Times in Life Sciences: A People-First Approach to Uncertainty

If you lead people in the Life Sciences space, chances are you’ve felt it lately: the tension, the uncertainty, the weight of trying to keep teams focused while everything around you shifts.

The industry is full of promise but also full of pressure.

Since the new presidential administration started, the National Institutes of Health (NIH), a major source of funding for biomedical research in the United States, has effectively frozen the issuance of new grants and reduced funding by approximately $3 billion, greatly impacting new life science organizations. This has forced organizations to scale back projects, delay hiring, and reconsider growth trajectories.

Compounding these challenges, the FDA has undergone significant layoffs, resulting in regulatory delays that stall clinical trials and product approvals. For many biotech startups, these setbacks are more than just inconvenient; they threaten the very survival of the business as each month of waiting erodes precious runway and investor confidence.

And through it all, your people look to you for answers and stability. If that sounds familiar, you're not alone and we want you to know: it’s okay to acknowledge the weight of it all. As HR consultants who work closely with life sciences employers, we’ve seen what steady, people-first leadership looks like, even in the most challenging environments. We’ve seen that during times of disruption, the most effective leaders aren’t necessarily the loudest or most confident. They’re the ones who lead with transparency, empathy, and a deep connection to purpose.

Here are some of the ways we’re encouraging our clients to lead with impact:

Acknowledge the Unpredictability: Out Loud
One of the hardest things for high-performing teams is not knowing. In biotech, the stakes are high and the variables are endless: funding rounds, clinical trials, FDA decisions, M&A activity. And now, investor confidence has taken a serious hit. The biotech ecosystem has become so unstable that the level of new company starts and investments in existing companies has plummeted. As a leader, naming the uncertainty instead of glossing over it gives your team permission to exhale.

Your team already senses the tension. Acknowledging it out loud helps take some of the power out of it. When people know their concerns aren’t being ignored or brushed aside, they’re more likely to stay engaged, even in the midst of unknowns.

You don’t have to solve everything overnight, but you do need to show that you see what they’re experiencing and that you’re in it with them.

Communicate with Transparency (Even When There’s No News)
When communication stops, fear and speculation rush in. That’s why transparency is your best tool, not only when you have good news, but especially when you don’t.

Be open about the challenges your organization is facing because your teams don’t expect perfection. They expect to be looped in. And when they feel trusted with real information, they’re more likely to stay focused and hopeful. If your company is one of the many trying to survive on “life support”—minimizing operations or delaying progress to weather the storm—acknowledging that can foster solidarity and trust. Even a short weekly update can provide a sense of stability when things feel chaotic.

Reconnect to the Mission
The core reason many people enter the biotech field is deeply personal. They want to solve problems, discover breakthroughs, and improve lives through science. In the face of disruption, purpose becomes a powerful anchor.

Remind your team of the work they’re doing. Despite the obstacles, their work is meaningful. Even amid reduced funding and clinical trial delays, many companies—particularly those at the intersection of biotech and tech—are still thriving. Digital healthcare is also a bright spot in this challenging climate. Share stories of patient impact, research breakthroughs, or even the long game you’re still playing.
Purpose fuels perseverance. In tough times, it’s often the reason people stay.

Put People First (And Mean It)
Burnout is real—and it’s hitting hard in high-pressure industries like biotech. If you want your team to deliver, you have to make space for them to rest, recover, and feel supported. The more you can lean into empathy and flexibility, the more resilient your team will be.

That might look like:

• Offering more flexibility with work schedules.
• Checking in on mental and emotional well-being—not just deadlines.
• Equipping managers with tools for empathetic leadership.
• Creating safe spaces for people to ask questions or voice concerns.

With so many biotech startups scaling back or shutting down, fear and uncertainty are driving emotional fatigue. Now more than ever, showing up for your people can make a real difference in retention and morale.
Your people are your greatest asset. Leading with empathy isn’t just the right thing to do—it’s a strategic advantage.

Foster Collaboration and Break Down Silos
In times of stress, teams tend to retreat inward. But, real innovation, the kind biotech relies on, comes from cross-functional collaboration and diverse thinking.

Encourage open dialogue between research, operations, HR, finance, and commercial teams. Create forums where people can brainstorm and problem-solve together. You’ll be surprised at the ideas that surface when silos come down.

Creative funding strategies are already emerging, like companies partnering with China for science and research, then returning to the U.S. to conduct clinical trials. Keeping communication open across teams can spark similarly adaptive thinking.

Some of the best breakthroughs happen when unlikely collaborators start talking.

Celebrate Progress, Not Just Endpoints
When long-term goals feel far away, small wins matter more than ever. Recognizing incremental progress, finishing a protocol, securing a bridge round, and getting a promising data readout keep people motivated and moving forward.

And this doesn’t need to be complicated. A shoutout in a team meeting, a handwritten note, or a shared Slack message can go a long way in reinforcing a culture of appreciation.

In a market where wins are harder to come by, especially in therapeutics, spotlighting success in diagnostics, med devices, or tech-enabled biotech can serve as a morale boost.

It’s easy to get caught in the “what’s next” mindset. But sometimes, just pausing to say, “We’re making progress, and it matters,” can change the energy of an entire team.

You’re Not Meant to Do This Alone
There’s no playbook for leading through times like these, but there are trusted strategies that make a difference. And there are partners who can help you apply them in a way that fits your unique organization.

At OneDigital, we work alongside biotech leaders to create resilient people strategies. These strategies center your mission, support your team, and equip you to lead with confidence, even in uncertainty.

If you’re navigating headwinds and looking for steady guidance, we’re here to support you.

Let’s talk about how we can help you take care of your people while continuing to push science forward. Learn more.