Rita Levi-Montalcini (1909–2012) was an Italian neurologist whose perseverance and brilliance made her one of the most influential scientists of the 20th century. Born in Turin to a traditional Jewish family, she faced discouragement early on—her father believed women should not pursue professional careers. But Levi-Montalcini persisted, enrolling in medical school and developing a passion for neurology.

Her career nearly ended before it began when Mussolini’s 1938 racial laws barred Jewish people from academic and professional positions. Refusing to abandon her work, she set up a clandestine laboratory in her bedroom. Using improvised instruments—including sewing needles as scalpels—she studied the growth of nerve fibers in chick embryos. These experiments laid the foundation for her greatest discovery: Nerve Growth Factor (NGF), a molecule critical to the development of the nervous system.

After the war, Levi-Montalcini joined Washington University in St. Louis, where she collaborated with biochemist Stanley Cohen. Their work on NGF earned them the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine in 1986. Her discovery transformed understanding of cell growth, regeneration, and diseases like Alzheimer’s and cancer.

Beyond science, Levi-Montalcini became a cultural icon in Italy. She served as a senator for life, advocated for education and women in STEM, and worked to expand opportunities for young researchers. Remarkably, she continued to lecture and conduct research well into her 90s.

At her death in 2012, at the age of 103, she left behind both a towering scientific legacy and a powerful reminder: even under oppression, determination and creativity can fuel discoveries that change the world.