Rita Levi-Montalcini

Rita Levi-Montalcini was a scientist who discovered how nerve cells grow and develop. She was the first woman to win the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine, which she shared with Stanley Cohen in 1986.

Levi-Montalcini was born in Turin, Italy, in 1909. She studied medicine at the University of Turin, where she graduated in 1936. After graduating, she moved to the United States to continue her research.

In the United States, Levi-Montalcini worked with Stanley Cohen to discover nerve growth factor (NGF). NGF is a protein that helps nerve cells grow and develop. Levi-Montalcini's research has helped scientists to understand how the nervous system works and has led to new treatments for diseases such as Alzheimer's disease and Parkinson's disease.

Levi-Montalcini was a brilliant scientist and a role model for women in science. She was also a passionate advocate for peace and social justice. She died in 2012 at the age of 103.

Levi-Montalcini was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine in 1986, along with Stanley Cohen.