Rita Levi-Montalcini was an eminent Italian neuroscientist born in Turin on April 22, 1909, who overcame extraordinary obstacles as a Jewish woman in Fascist Italy to revolutionize our understanding of nervous system development. Earning her medical degree with summa cum laude honors in 1936, she conducted pioneering research in a makeshift home laboratory after being expelled from academic institutions under Mussolini's racial laws. During World War II, she continued her investigations in a country cottage and later in Florence while living underground, establishing foundational theories about embryonic nerve cell proliferation and death that contradicted prevailing scientific models. Her unwavering dedication to scientific inquiry during this perilous period demonstrated exceptional resilience and set the stage for her landmark contributions to neurobiology.
Levi-Montalcini's most significant scientific achievement came in the early 1950s when she co-discovered nerve growth factor (NGF), a protein that stimulates and guides the development of nerve cells, fundamentally transforming our understanding of cellular growth mechanisms. Working with Viktor Hamburger at Washington University, she observed that mouse tumors accelerated nerve growth in chick embryos, leading to the identification of NGF as the causative substance, with Stanley Cohen subsequently isolating the protein. This seminal discovery established the foundation for modern research on neurodegenerative diseases including Alzheimer's and Parkinson's, while providing critical insights into cancer development and cellular death mechanisms during normal development. The profound implications of NGF research extended across multiple medical disciplines, enabling major advances in understanding how cells communicate, differentiate, and form complex neural networks.
In recognition of her groundbreaking work, Levi-Montalcini received the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine in 1986 alongside Stanley Cohen, becoming the fourth woman to receive this prestigious award. She established the Institute of Cell Biology in Rome in 1962 and later founded the European Brain Research Institute in 2002, significantly advancing neuroscience infrastructure in Italy while mentoring generations of researchers. Committed to empowering future scientists, particularly women, she created the Rita Levi-Montalcini Foundation to provide African women with educational opportunities and scientific training resources. Appointed as a senator for life by the Italian government in 2001, she remained an active researcher and advocate for science education until her death at age 103 in 2012, leaving an enduring legacy that continues to inspire neuroscientists and women in STEM worldwide.
