She Invented That A digital museum of women in science

Scientist Exhibit

Rita Levi-Montalcini

Biology & Life Sciences • Medicine & Health

1909 – 2012 Italy

Co-discovered nerve growth factor

Overview Institutions
Rita Levi-Montalcini

Overview

About Rita Levi-Montalcini

Rita Levi-Montalcini investigated how nerve cells grow and survive. Barred from university work under Fascist racial laws, she continued experiments in a small laboratory assembled at home. Her later research with Stanley Cohen led to the identification of nerve growth factor, opening new paths in developmental biology, neuroscience, and medical research.

Scientific Contribution

Key Discovery

Nerve growth factor

Discovery and characterization of nerve growth factor, a protein essential to the growth and survival of certain neurons.

Life Timeline

Important Moments

1946

career

Joins Viktor Hamburger's laboratory at Washington University

Levi-Montalcini was invited to Washington University in St. Louis, where she continued research on nervous-system development.

1952

discovery

Identifies a tumour-derived nerve-growth effect

Her experiments showed that mouse tumours released a substance that stimulated vigorous nerve growth in chick embryos.

1953

career

Begins collaboration with Stanley Cohen

Levi-Montalcini and Stanley Cohen began the collaboration that led to the identification and isolation of nerve growth factor.

1986

award

Receives the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine

Levi-Montalcini shared the Nobel Prize with Stanley Cohen for their discoveries of growth factors.

Places & Networks

Institutions