Scientific tools

Tools for flow cytometry.

Flow cytometry

Intelligent Gating Tool

AI-enabled gating assistance for flow cytometry analysis. Define hierarchical gating strategies, annotate populations, and generate reproducible gating reports — without the tedium.

  • Define hierarchical gating strategies, annotate populations, and generate reproducible gating reports
  • Export-ready gating trees with metadata annotations
  • Supports common immune phenotyping panels (T cell, NK, DC, myeloid)
Panel design

Immune Panel Builder

Smart spectral unmixing and panel design for multicolor flow cytometry.

  • Avoid fluorochrome conflicts, optimize reagent combinations for your laser config, and validate panels against known co-expression profiles
  • Fluorochrome compatibility checker across common cytometer configs
  • Clone and antibody suggestions ranked by literature usage
On my radar
Nat Med · 2026
Humoral IgG1 responses to tumor antigens underpin clinical outcomes in immune checkpoint blockade
IgG1+ plasma cell expansion in PD-1 responders — humoral immunity as a complement to T cell-focused immunotherapy.
doi:10.1038/s41591-025-04177-6 ↗
Nat Immunol · 2026
Engineering NK and T cells with metabolite-sensing receptors to target solid tumors
CRISPR screens identify GPR183 as a top enhancer of lymphocyte infiltration — rewiring metabolite sensing to guide CAR T and NK cells into tumors.
doi:10.1038/s41590-026-02473-y ↗
Immunologist · Drug Development Consultant · Tool Builder

Basic immunology.
Drug discovery.
Clinical translation.

Director-level immunologist with 15 years of experience across early-stage drug discovery, vaccine development, and clinical translation. Specializing in target identification, mechanism of action studies, and building the translational evidence packages that advance novel assets from bench to first-in-human.

Anthony Desbien, Ph.D.
Anthony Desbien, Ph.D.
Immunologist & Drug Development Consultant
T cell biology Immuno-oncology Flow cytometry Translational science Bioinformatics
Core expertise
STING pathway Innate immunity Immuno-oncology cGAS-STING Flow cytometry Translational science Bioinformatics CDN therapeutics
Peer-reviewed work
Selected publications
2019
Magnitude of Therapeutic STING Activation Determines CD8+ T Cell-Mediated Anti-tumor Immunity
Sivick KE, Desbien AL, Glickman LH, Reiner GL, Corrales L, Surh NH, Hudson TE, Vu UT, Francica BJ, Banda T, et al.
Cell Reports · 2019;29(3):785–789 Co-first author
2018
TNFα and Radioresistant Stromal Cells Are Essential for Therapeutic Efficacy of Cyclic Dinucleotide STING Agonists in Nonimmunogenic Tumors
Francica BJ, Ghasemzadeh A, Desbien AL, Theodros D, Sivick KE, Reiner GL, Glickman LH, Marciscano AE, Sharabi AB, Leong ML, McWhirter SM, Dubensky TW Jr, Pardoll DM, Drake CG.
Cancer Immunology Research · 2018 Apr;6(4):422–433
2020
ADU-S100 (MIW815) synergizes with checkpoint blockade to elicit an antitumor CD8+ T-cell response to control distal tumors
Deng W, Desbien AL, Gauthier KS, Reiner G, Corrales L, Schroeder T, Glickman LH, Surh NH, Francica B, Leong JJ, et al.
Cancer Immunology Research · 2020;8(4 Suppl):PR09 — AACR abstract
2016
STING activation in the tumor microenvironment with a synthetic human STING-activating cyclic dinucleotide leads to potent anti-tumor immunity
Glickman LH, Kanne DB, Kasibhatla S, Li J, Pferdekamper AC, Gauthier KS, Deng W, Desbien AL, et al.
Cancer Research · 2016;76(14 Suppl):1445 — AACR abstract
2016
IL-18 and Subcapsular Lymph Node Macrophages Are Essential for Enhanced B Cell Responses with TLR4 Agonist Adjuvants
Desbien AL, Dubois Cauwelaert N, Reed SJ, Bailor HR, Liang H, Carter D, Duthie MS, Fox CB, Reed SG, Orr MT.
Journal of Immunology · 2016 Dec 1;197(11):4351–4359 · PMID: 27794001 First author
2015
Squalene emulsion potentiates the adjuvant activity of the TLR4 agonist GLA via inflammatory caspases, IL-18, and IFN-γ
Desbien AL, Reed SJ, Bailor HR, Dubois Cauwelaert N, Laurance JD, Orr MT, Fox CB, Carter D, Reed SG, Duthie MS.
European Journal of Immunology · 2015 Feb;45(2):407–17 · PMID: 25367751 First author
View all on PubMed ↗
Intellectual property
Patents & applications

Methods and Compositions for Treatment of Cancer and Infectious Diseases

Aduro Biotech
US Provisional 62/927,639

Methods for Treatment of Bladder Cancer

Aduro Biotech
US Provisional 62/939,213

STING Agonist Combination Therapies with Checkpoint Inhibitors

Aduro Biotech
Provisional filings · 2015–2021

Novel Antibody Drug Conjugate (ADC) — IO Target

Tizona Therapeutics
Provisional filed · 2023

Novel Immune Checkpoint Antibody — New Targets Program

Tizona Therapeutics
Provisional filed · 2023–2024

Patents span STING agonist programs at Aduro Biotech and novel IO antibody targets at Tizona Therapeutics. See Google Patents ↗ for additional filings.

Background
About Anthony

I am a Director-level immunologist with over a decade of drug discovery experience spanning innate immune signaling, immuno-oncology, and age-related disease. I have built and led research teams at multiple biotech companies, consistently bridging rigorous preclinical science with translational program strategy.

At Aduro Biotech, I was a core contributor to the STING agonist program, helping develop ADU-S100 (MIW815) from mechanistic research through Phase I clinical trial design — including dose selection and interpretation of clinical results. At Tizona Therapeutics, I led both the translational team for a lead clinical asset and a new targets program identifying and validating novel immunology ideas.

Most recently, as Director of Immunology at Deciduous Therapeutics, I built the immunology function from the ground up, advancing redosable iNKT-based drug candidates and leading the team through high-complexity in vitro and in vivo programs. Across these roles I've been known for exceptional flow cytometry expertise — panel design, high-throughput data analysis, and implementing new analytical platforms — and for mentoring scientists at every career stage.

Career history
2025 – Present
Immunologist & Drug Development Consultant
Independent · San Francisco Bay Area
Building computational tools for flow cytometry and immune panel design. Consulting on immunology drug development strategy across oncology, autoimmunity, and immunotherapy programs.
2024 – Sep 2025
Director of Immunology
Deciduous Therapeutics · San Francisco, CA
Led a team of 6 scientists developing novel glycolipid–innate immune stimulator combinations for age-related diseases via iNKT activation. Architected preclinical workstreams for small molecules and prodrugs targeting senescent cell clearance.
2022 – 2024
Associate Director of Immunology
Tizona Therapeutics · South San Francisco, CA
Directed three functional areas: ADC, clinical bioinformatics, and new targets. Engineered high-dimensional flow cytometry workflows to identify Phase I biomarkers. Led cross-functional new targets team to a functional antibody and provisional patent filing.
2021 – 2022
Senior Scientist, Discovery Biology
RAPT Therapeutics · South San Francisco, CA
Led nonclinical MOA development for a CCR4 inhibitor across cancer and allergy models (atopic dermatitis, asthma). Managed academic collaborations and CRO studies.
2015 – 2021
Associate Director
Aduro Biotech · Berkeley, CA
SME for the first-in-human STING agonist program (ADU-S100). Characterized innate and adaptive immune responses, identified clinical biomarkers for proof-of-mechanism, and discovered combination therapies with checkpoint inhibitors leading to provisional patent filings.
2009 – 2015
Postdoctoral Fellow
Infectious Disease Research Institute · Seattle, WA
Vaccine research for neglected diseases and TB antibiotic development. Identified inflammasome contributions to TLR4 adjuvant activity. Invented a protein microarray for antibody response evaluation. First author on two papers, co-author on seven.
2003 – 2009
Ph.D. in Immunology
University of Colorado, Marrack Lab · Denver, CO
Discovered conditional BHRF1-Bim interaction during inhibition of T cell apoptosis. B.S. Microbiology, University of Minnesota (1996–2000).
What colleagues say
Recommendations
"

Tony's work was instrumental in our understanding of ADU-S100. His ability to bridge the gap between preclinical findings and clinical observations was a tremendous asset, helping us make informed decisions about the development of the ADU-S100 program.

DT
Damian Trujillo
Associate Director of Biomarkers · Aduro Biotech & RAPT Therapeutics
"

Tony expertly built our immunology function from the ground up under challenging circumstances. His leadership in advancing our therapeutic programs, particularly the development of redosable iNKT-based drug candidates — a significant hurdle in the field — was remarkable.

CW
Chan Whiting
CSO, SLAM Bio · formerly Aduro Biotech & Deciduous Therapeutics
"

Tony also has exceptional expertise in flow cytometry, particularly in panel design, evaluation, and optimization, and high-throughput data analysis. His critical eye and thoughtful guidance elevated the skills of researchers at every level.

LL
Linda Lee, Ph.D.
Immunologist · Deciduous Therapeutics
"

I was particularly impressed with his ability to analyze large data sets with exceptional rigor to generate clear and significant results. He brings a sense of dry wit and humor to his leadership style and is an advocate for continued growth and learning for his team.

CB
Courtney Beers
Chief Scientific Officer · Tizona Therapeutics
Read all recommendations on LinkedIn ↗