Could it be Irina who introduced Sloane to Rambaldi's work?

Now that's an interesting thought. Of course it begs a set of larger questions about Irina's history with Rambaldi--how did she find out? Perhaps from her superiors, the same way Sydney did, all unknowing, at first, of her special position?

Although there's also the mad monk to consider--that conversation between him and Sloane has a time-reference, doesn't it? I'll have to look it up when I get home.