Rita Levi-Montalcini
Rita Levi-Montalcini | |
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Rita Levi-Montalcini, c. 1975. Image courtesy of the Bernard Becker Medical Library, Washington University School of Medicine. | |
| Born | 22 April 1909 |
| Died | 30 December 2012 (aged 103) Rome, Italy |
| Nationality | Italian |
| Citizenship | Italy, United States |
| Alma mater | University of Turin |
| Known for | Nerve growth factor |
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| Scientific career | |
| Fields | Neurobiology |
| Institutions | Washington University in St. Louis |
| Member of the Senate of the Republic | |
| Life tenure 1 August 2001 – 30 December 2012 | |
| Appointed by | Carlo Azeglio Ciampi |
Rita Levi-Montalcini OMRI OMCA (US: /ˌleɪvi ˌmoʊntɑːlˈtʃiːni, ˌlɛv-, ˌliːvi ˌmɒntəlˈ-/ LAY-vee MOHN-tahl-CHEE-nee, LEV-ee -, LEE-vee MON-təl-, Italian: [ˈriːta ˈlɛːvi montalˈtʃiːni]; 22 April 1909 – 30 December 2012) was an Italian neurobiologist. She was awarded the 1986 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine jointly with colleague Stanley Cohen for the discovery of nerve growth factor (NGF).
From 2001 until her death, she also served in the Italian Senate as a Senator for Life. This honor was given due to her significant scientific contributions. On 22 April 2009, she became the first Nobel laureate to reach the age of 100, and the event was feted with a party at Rome's City Hall.