CellectGen Wins SBIR Funding for Saliva Periodontal Test
FREDERICK, Md. – – October 29, 2026 -- CellectGen has secured Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) funding to develop a saliva-based, point-of-care diagnostic for periodontal disease, targeting early detection of active tissue destruction. The company is building the platform with reagent supplier Kemp Proteins and lateral-flow developer DCNDx.
Periodontal disease affects 42% of U.S. adults over 30 and costs an estimated $154 billion
Periodontal disease is a leading cause of adult tooth loss. Clinicians still struggle to identify patients with active disease before irreversible damage appears. Current diagnostics mostly detect existing clinical disease or risk factors, and commercial saliva tests mainly measure bacterial or host biomarker signatures rather than tissue destruction itself.