Immunologist Melissa Robbiani (Pope) conducts research at the Population Council's Center for Biomedical Research. The focus of her work at the Council is dendritic cells, which are part of the body's immune system. Robbiani has an impressive history of contributions to the field of AIDS immunology research. Her pioneering research helped define the role of dendritic cells in HIV infection and was also part of the development of a foundation of understanding, which led to one of the major accepted theories for the mechanism of sexual transmission of HIV. Robbiani is currently working on microbicide and vaccine development. 

Robbiani has written six book chapters and a long list of articles that have appeared in prominent scientific journals. She has received numerous awards for her research from organizations such as amfAR, the National Institutes of Health, the Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation, the Campbell Foundation, and the Rockefeller Foundation. Robbiani has been invited to discuss her research at conferences and organizations throughout the United States and Europe. An Australian native, she has a Ph.D. in microbiology/immunology from the University of Adelaide in Australia. Robbiani is an adjunct faculty member at Rockefeller University and an affiliate faculty member at Colorado State University.

Robbiani is affiliated with the Population Council's HIV and AIDS program.