Born on April 22, 1909, in Turin, Italy, Rita Levi-Montalcini came from a comfortable Jewish family where education for women wasn’t expected. Her father, though intelligent and mathematically inclined, didn’t believe women needed advanced schooling. Yet, Rita had other plans — and a will of iron.
From a young age, she wanted to learn, explore, and understand life itself. Despite early resistance, she pursued medicine at the University of Turin, graduating just as Europe edged towards one of its darkest chapters — World War II.
A Scientist in Hiding: Perseverance During War
When Italy enacted anti-Jewish laws in the late 1930s, Rita, like many other Jewish professionals, was stripped of her university position. But she didn’t stop. Instead of abandoning science, she transformed her own bedroom into a laboratory and began experimenting with chicken embryos, studying how nerve cells grow. Even in the chaos of war, she worked quietly and courageously, determined to understand how the nervous system develops.
Her early experiments — conducted in secret and under dangerous circumstances — laid the foundation for her greatest discovery. It was a reminder that great ideas can start anywhere, even in the most unexpected places.
The Big Break: A Move That Changed Everything
After the war ended in 1945, Rita briefly helped treat patients in refugee camps before returning to research. She caught the attention of Viktor Hamburger, a respected scientist in the United States, who invited her to join his lab at Washington University in St. Louis, Missouri.
In St. Louis, her work shifted from tiny bedrooms to well-equipped laboratories. Rita and Hamburger noticed something remarkable: when certain mouse tumors were placed in developing chick embryos, the embryos’ nerves grew rapidly and aggressively. This wasn’t random — it meant something was telling the nerves to grow.
Her attention to this unexpected result led Rita and her colleagues to a profound insight:
There must be a substance in the body that promotes the growth of nerve cells.
This idea was revolutionary.
Discovery of the Nerve Growth Factor (NGF)
Rita, along with biochemist Stanley Cohen, isolated the mysterious substance and named it nerve growth factor (NGF). It was the first of many “growth factors” — natural proteins that tell cells when to grow, survive, and develop.
Here’s why this discovery mattered:
NGF is a protein that helps nerve cells grow and survive.
It’s essential during embryonic development when billions of nerve cells form and find their place in the body.
Without NGF, many neurons would die before forming the connections that make thinking, feeling, and movement possible.
NGF opened an entirely new branch of biology and influenced research into degenerative diseases like Alzheimer’s, nerve injuries, and even cancer.
In simple terms, Rita uncovered one of the body’s natural ‘growth instructions’ — a tiny molecule with massive influence. NGF helped scientists understand how nervous systems build themselves, and how they could be repaired when damaged.
A Nobel Prize and a Lifetime of Influence
In 1986, Rita Levi-Montalcini and Stanley Cohen were awarded the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine for their discoveries of growth factors, especially NGF. The Nobel Committee described the finding as “fundamental” to how we understand cell and organ growth.
Rita didn’t just stop there:
She received the U.S. National Medal of Science in 1987 — one of America’s highest scientific honors.
She founded research institutes, including the Institute of Cell Biology in Rome and the European Brain Research Institute.
She spent her later years supporting scientists and promoting opportunities for women and young researchers worldwide.
She also entered politics — in 2001 she was appointed a Senator for Life in Italy as recognition for her outstanding contributions.
More Than a Scientist: A Life of Courage and Purpose
Rita’s story is not just about science — it’s about resilience, curiosity, and hope. At a time when women and minorities faced systemic barriers, she pursued knowledge with passion and patience. She worked through war, discrimination, and limited resources, proving that great minds rise even under pressure.
She lived a remarkable life of 103 years, remaining intellectually sharp and active almost to the end. In fact, she became the first Nobel laureate to celebrate her 100th birthday.
Her life teaches us:
Never underestimate curiosity.
Great discoveries often begin with simple questions.
Courage and persistence can change the world.
Why Rita’s Discovery Still Matters Today
Before Rita’s work, scientists knew very little about how nerve cells grow and survive. NGF changed that. Today, research into NGF and related growth factors influences:
Neuroscience and brain health
Understanding and treating Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, dementia
Nerve regeneration after injury
Cancer and immune system research
Mental health studies
Scientists now know that the body uses many “messenger” molecules like NGF to tell cells what to do. Without these signals, cells stop growing, die too soon, or grow uncontrollably — both of which can lead to disease.
Rita Levi-Montalcini’s work didn’t just explain how cells grow. It opened the door to understanding life at its most basic and beautiful level.
Rita’s Legacy: A Source of Inspiration
Rita Levi-Montalcini’s life is a reminder that one person’s curiosity can unlock secrets that benefit all of humanity. She proved that science is not just about facts and experiments — it’s about asking bold questions, persevering through adversity, and sharing knowledge that elevates us all.
Her discovery of nerve growth factor continues to echo through brain science, medicine, and even the philosophy of how life organizes itself. In every nerve that grows, every patient helped, and every young scientist inspired, her legacy lives on.