Immunologist & Drug Development Consultant

Director-level immunologist.
Bridging bench science
to clinical programs.

Over a decade of drug discovery experience spanning innate immune signaling, immuno-oncology, and age-related disease. Built and led research teams at Aduro Biotech, Tizona Therapeutics, RAPT Therapeutics, and Deciduous Therapeutics — connecting rigorous preclinical science with translational program strategy.

Known for exceptional flow cytometry expertise, high-dimensional data analysis, and mentoring scientists at every career stage. Currently consulting and building computational tools for immunology programs.

Anthony Desbien, Ph.D.
Anthony Desbien, Ph.D.
Immunologist & Drug Development Consultant
San Francisco Bay Area
Immuno-oncology Flow cytometry STING / innate immunity Translational science

Available for consulting engagements

I'm open to project-based or advisory work where my background in immunology and translational science might be useful. Happy to have a conversation about whether there's a good fit.

Reach out via LinkedIn ↗
Areas I can help with
Where my background might be useful
Program strategy

Immunology Program Support

My experience spans both ends — early mechanistic research through Phase I — so I understand how the science needs to translate as programs mature. Most useful as a scientific sounding board or to help scope immunology workstreams: thinking through immunology strategy, preclinical-to-clinical translation, biomarker frameworks for early clinical studies, or helping a small team build out its immunology function. Also happy to assist with CRO scoping or academic collaboration.

  • Thinking through immunology strategy for a program
  • Preclinical-to-clinical translation planning
  • Helping a small team build out its immunology work
  • Input on biomarker frameworks for early clinical studies
  • CRO scoping & academic collaboration support
Flow cytometry

Flow Cytometry Support

Flow cytometry is probably where I can be most immediately useful. I've spent a lot of time on panel design, gating, and making cytometry data actually tell a story — happy to help troubleshoot, review a panel, or think through an analysis approach.

  • Panel design review & optimization suggestions
  • Gating strategy feedback
  • Platform selection guidance (spectral vs. conventional)
  • Assay design for primary immune cells
  • Informal training or working through analysis together
Computational

Data Analysis & Bioinformatics

I'm comfortable in R and FlowJo, and have done clinical biomarker analysis in Phase I settings. Not a dedicated bioinformatician, but I can help bridge the gap between wet lab data and what you need to show scientifically.

  • High-dimensional cytometry analysis (FlowJo, R)
  • Biomarker readout planning for early clinical studies
  • Helping make sense of immune datasets
Translation

Translational Input

Having worked on programs that went from mouse models into Phase I, I understand what questions come up as you move toward the clinic. I can help think through how to use preclinical data to build a translational story, and what to measure in early patients.

  • Connecting preclinical findings to clinical hypotheses
  • Proof-of-mechanism study design
  • Immunophenotyping of clinical samples
  • Combination strategy thinking (e.g., checkpoint + agonist)
  • Scientific advisory conversations
Scientific software
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 and annotate populations with 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 and optimize reagent combinations for your laser configuration.

  • Avoid fluorochrome conflicts and optimize reagent combinations for your laser config
  • Fluorochrome compatibility checker across common cytometer configs
  • Clone and antibody suggestions ranked by literature usage
Background
Career history

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 the translational team that developed Phase I PD markers for a lead clinical asset, and managed a new targets project 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.

Timeline
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).
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
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 ↗
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 ↗