Rita Levi-Montalcini (b. Turin, Italy, 1909 – d. 2012, Rome, Italy) was an Italian neurologist and researcher. She was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine in 1986, along with her colleague Stanley Cohen, for their discovery of nerve growth factor. Levi-Montalcini emigrated from Italy during World War II to escape antisemitic laws and Nazi occupation. She continued her scientific research in the United States, where she became a renowned scientist. Her discovery of nerve growth factor was crucial for understanding the development of the nervous system. She is celebrated not only for her scientific contributions but also for her dedication to education and advocacy for the role of women in science.
