Rita Levi-Montalcini
Personal Information
Born: 1909
Died: 2012
Country of Birth: Italy
Nationality: Italy; USA
Ethnicity: White
Education
University of Turin Medical School MD 1936
Professional Life
Field of Study: Neurobiology
Institution/Corporation: Washington University in St. Louis; Fidia
Degrees & Memberships: Honorary Degree:University Milano-Bicocca (2008), Polytechnic University of Turin (2006), Complutense University of Madrid (2005), McGill University (2011); Member: EMBO (1974), Foreign Member of the Royal Society (ForMemRS, 1995), American Academie of Arts & Scientists (1966), US National Academy of Sciences (1968), Pontifical Academy of Sciences (1974), American Philosophical Society (1986), Italian Multiple Sclerosis Association, Italian Academy of Lincei
Awards & Achievements
Awards: 1986, Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine (with Stanley Cohen); 1983, Louise Gross Horwitz Prize, columbia University; 1986, Albert Lasker Award for Basic Medical Research; 1987, National Medal of Science; 1963, Max Weinstein Award, United Cerebral Palsy Association; 1970, Golden Plate Award, American Academy of Achievement; 1985, Ralph W. Gerard Prize in Neuroscience; 1991, Laurea Honoris Causa in Medicine, University of Trieste; 2009, Leonardo da Vinci Award, European Academy of Sciences; 1969, Feltrinelle Medicine Award, Academia Nazionale die Lincei; 1974, William Thomas Wakeman Award, National Paraplegia Foundation; 1982, Lewis S. Rosentiel Award for distinguished work in Basic Medical Research
Achievements: Served in the Italian Senate (2001-2012) as a Senator for Life; founded European Brain Research Institute 2002; founded & 1st Director of Institute of Cell biology in rome; founded Rita Levi-Montalcini Foundation that ensures female scientists in Africa have the tools they need to conduct their research
1986, won Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine with Stanley Cohen for the discovery of nerve growth factor
Served in the Italian Senate as a Senator for Life from 2001 until her death in 2012
died at age 103 & is the longest living Nobel laureate
Had a twin sister Paola who was a painter
After seeing a close family friend die of stomach cancer, she decided to be a doctor instead of a writer
Lost her job as an assistant in the anatomy department at the University of Turin after a 1938 law barred Jews from holding university positions was passed
During WWII she set up a lab in her bedroom to study the growth of nerve fibers in chicken embryos
Survived the Holocaust when her family fled to Florence in September 1943 & lived under false identities with the help & protection of some non-Jewish friends
worked for Prof. Viktor Hamburger in his lab at Washington University in St. Louis for 30 years
1963, 1st female recipient of the Max Weinstein Award
She could trace her family's Jewish roots to the Roman Empire
At age 94 she sued Beppe Grillo, an Italian comedian, actor, blogger, & politician, for calling her an "old whore"