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CellectGen Advances Periodontal Diagnostics in Collaboration with Kemp Proteins and DCN Dx
CellectGen Advances Periodontal Diagnostics in Collaboration with Kemp Proteins and DCN Dx
October 28, 2026, Pasadena, CA — CellectGen has received Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) funding to develop a saliva-based, point-of-care diagnostic platform for periodontal disease, focused on early detection of active tissue destruction.
About 42% of U.S. adults over 30 have periodontal disease, a leading cause of adult tooth loss that contributes to an estimated $154 billion in direct and indirect costs. Yet 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 primarily measure bacterial or host biomarker signatures rather than tissue destruction itself.
CellectGen’s platform measures different molecular forms of a highly specific enzyme associated with the breakdown of periodontal soft and hard tissue. Telling these forms apart has been difficult because antibodies with the necessary specificity were lacking. Working with Kemp Proteins, CellectGen has developed and validated hybridoma-derived monoclonal antibodies that distinguish among these forms. Kemp’s antibody development and manufacturing capabilities provide the sensitivity, specificity, batch-to-batch consistency and traceability that regulated diagnostics require.
“Our platform will help clinicians answer three critical questions: What is the level of active tissue destruction? What is the patient’s risk of future disease progression? And is the current therapy working?” said Robert Gellibolian, CEO of CellectGen. “The SBIR funding enables us to advance this approach, while our collaboration with Kemp provides critical antibody reagents for continued assay development with the team at DCN Dx.”
DCN Dx turns the antibodies into a usable test. These proprietary antibodies are now being built into a rapid saliva test with DCN Dx, a Carlsbad, CA-based developer specializing in lateral-flow assay technologies. DCN Dx is responsible for the step between a validated reagent and a working product: designing and optimizing the lateral-flow format around CellectGen’s antibodies, tuning the assay to deliver quantitative rather than simply yes/no results, and ensuring it performs reliably with real saliva samples. Its work targets results in under 15 minutes, in a format simple enough for both chairside and at-home use. DCN Dx’s experience in lateral-flow development also helps move the test toward a consistent, manufacturable product that can scale beyond the lab.
“Diagnostics are only as strong as the reagents behind them,” said Mike Keefe, CEO of Kemp Proteins. “We’re pleased to support CellectGen’s work as they develop a platform aimed at detecting periodontal disease activity earlier and closer to the patient.”
“It’s been great working with CellectGen on this new periodontal test and collaborating with Kemp Proteins on reagent development. Together, we’re bringing a fast, quantitative lateral-flow assay from the lab to chairside and at-home use,” remarked Patrick Vaughan, COO at DCN Dx.
Together, the three companies span the development continuum: CellectGen’s biomarker and platform technology, Kemp’s reagent development and manufacturing, and DCN Dx’s lateral-flow expertise. The technology aims to give clinicians predictive, actionable insight into the biological drivers of ongoing, subclinical tissue destruction, supporting earlier identification, progression monitoring and evaluation of treatment response.
Media & Company Contact: Casey Mitchell casey.mitchell@kempproteins.com
About CellectGen
CellectGen’s mission is to improve periodontal screening and treatment outcomes by giving clinicians the right information, in the right place, at the right time. The company is developing a decentralized, saliva-based point-of-care platform that quantifies molecular markers of periodontal tissue destruction.
About Kemp Proteins
Kemp Proteins is a protein problem-solving company that helps researchers and developers overcome the challenges of difficult proteins and antibodies. Operating under an ISO 13485 Quality Management System, Kemp develops, produces and characterizes proteins for diagnostic, biopharmaceutical and research applications, combining scientific expertise and machine learning with practical, scalable solutions.
About DCN Dx
DCN Dx is a specialist developer of diagnostic tests built on lateral-flow technology, supporting clients from early assay development through clinical research, regulatory support and manufacturing. Its integrated engineering and science teams design the assay together with the cassette and sample-handling device, so the two are optimized as one system. The company also develops point-of-care readers and instrumentation, and offers training and consulting in rapid assay development.
