Rita Levi-Montalcini, OMRI, OMCA was an Italian Nobel laureate, honored for her work in neurobiology. She was awarded the 1986 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine jointly with colleague Stanley Cohen for the discovery of nerve growth factor

It’s said, in Italy, many young girls dream of becoming someone like the late Rita Levi-Montalcini – a woman who, years ago, against great odds and a male-dominated world, achieved greatness in the field of science and education.  In our region, we know her as one of our area’s most distinguished researchers whose work at Washington University led to her discovery of the nerve growth factor (NGF) and a better understanding and treatment of such diseases as cancer, Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s.  She continued research with Washington University biochemist Stanley Cohen, and both were awarded the Nobel Prize in Medicine in 1986.