About Salmon Diagnostics
We are building next-generation male fertility diagnostics with a clear goal: reduce uncertainty and help people move forward with better direction.
Salmon Diagnostics was founded in 2024. It was born from academic research in male fertility and sperm biomarker discovery led at Wayne State University, with foundational work originating at the University of Massachusetts Amherst. Formerly known as Ripple Biosciences, the company was created to translate more than a decade of high-impact research into clinically actionable, data-driven fertility diagnostics. Supported by a National Institute of Health Small Business Technology Transfer award, Salmon Diagnostics is advancing SpermFit, a multi-modal diagnostic built on novel biomarker analyses from thousands of sperm samples across both clinical and general population cohorts. By integrating multiple biological signals with advanced analytics, the company aims to move male fertility assessment beyond traditional semen analysis toward predictive, precision diagnostics for clinicians and couples.
Founder, CEO
Dr. J. Richard Pilsner, MPH, PhD, is an internationally recognized leader in reproductive epigenetics and the molecular genetics of infertility. He serves as Professor and the Robert J. Sokol, MD Endowed Chair of Molecular Obstetrics and Gynecology, and Associate Director of the C.S. Mott Center for Human Growth and Development at Wayne State University School of Medicine. His work has been published in leading journals in reproductive medicine, including Fertility and Sterility and Human Reproduction.
Dr. Pilsner’s research has pioneered the development of novel sperm biomarkers, including the first sperm epigenetic clock—a machine learning–based tool designed to predict time to pregnancy. His research continues to advance biomarker-driven approaches to characterize sperm fitness and refine infertility classification, with the goal of improving clinical decision-making and reproductive outcomes for couples.
Karolina Nowak
Senior Data Scientist
Mission
To revolutionize sperm health diagnostics by combining cutting-edge science with bold innovation, delivering precise, accessible, and empowering tools that maximize the chances of creating healthy pregnancies.
Vision
A world where every hopeful parent benefits from advanced, evidence based reproductive science that begins with the most fundamental factor—sperm health—measured with accuracy, speed, and trust.