Relentless #41 - Jake Adler, Founder & CEO of Pilgrim
Aug 25, 2025
Jake Adler, Founder & CEO of Pilgrim, specializes in advancing military medicine and biosecurity. In their conversation, he tackles the complexities of bioweapons and the evolution of trauma care on the battlefield. Adler also discusses revolutionary virus detection through nanopore sequencing and its implications for public health. He reflects on the anthrax legacy and innovations in medical antidotes, alongside personal insights on sleep optimization. Lastly, he emphasizes the urgent need for enhanced biosurveillance systems to tackle emerging biological threats.
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Restore Before Enhancing Warfighters
- Jake Adler argues medical restoration must precede enhancement for future warfighters operating in dispersed, contested battlefields.
- He positions Pilgrim to focus on regenerative hemostatics and survivability rather than immediate “super soldier” augmentation.
Origin Story Of Modern Hemostatics
- Adler recounts John Holcomb’s observations from Mogadishu that inspired modern hemostatic development.
- He traces early field solutions from zeolite QuickClot to shell-derived Hemcon and the debate over thermal burns versus efficacy.
Safety Tradeoffs Locked In By Procurement
- Early QuickClot (zeolite) saved lives but caused burns due to an exothermic water draw; tradeoffs shaped adoption.
- The DoD procurement and risk-averse medic culture cemented older products despite better alternatives emerging.
