Start with the decision, not the dataset
Before reviewing every mechanistic paper or assay result, define the actual milestone question. A decision-first frame keeps the evidence review proportionate and easier to communicate.
Make uncertainty explicit
List the assumptions that must be true for the next milestone to succeed and label each one with confidence, evidence type, and failure impact.
Package the risk for leadership consumption
Executives rarely need a full literature tour. They need a ranked summary of what could break, how likely it is, and what the practical options are.