Women in Science: Rita Levi-Montalcini

Women in science do not get the recognition they deserve - they are often overlooked, forgotten or brushed to the side to do menial repetitive work. One of the best examples is Rosalind Franklin: without her, Watson & Crick would never have elucidated the structure of DNA. But did she share the Nobel Prize with them? No (sure, she had passed away before the Prize was awarded, but she still doesn't get the credit she deserves).

In honour of all these amazing women, I'm starting a "Women in Science" series, wherein I will explain some of the invaluable work these female scientists have accomplished.

Today we're going to start with Rita Levi-Montalcini, a remarkable woman I first learned about in my undergrad program (Biology & Pharmacology Co-op at McMaster University).

• Rita Levi-Montalcini won the 1986 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine for her discovery of nerve growth factor (NGF). Her experiments looked at the growth of chick embryos & found that a transplanted tumour caused an excessive outgrowth of nerves. She thought the tumour cells must be producing a compound (NGF) that was exclusively inducing the growth of neurons. At the time (1952), it was a fairly radical idea & no one believed her - but she went on to prove her theory. Further research also showed that cells can produce NGF when looking for a new nerve connection.
• Rita shared the Nobel Prize with her colleague Stanley Cohen. He found that NGF was abundant in snake venom & mammalian saliva & was able to isolate the protein to determine its structure. At the same time, he discovered epidermal growth factor, a compound that promotes the growth of a number of different cell types.
• Rita is a twin. She & her twin sister Paola were born in 1909 - which makes her 101, the oldest living Nobel laureate. She's also the first Nobel Prize winner to reach her 100th birthday.
• As with many female scientists, Rita was discouraged along the way. Her father ran a strict household & thought that a professional career would interfere with a woman's role as a wife & mother. Eventually, triumphantly, she was able to overcome his objections & enrolled in medical school.
• As a Jewish family in Italy during WWII, Rita's medical career was over almost as soon as it began. She set up a lab in her own bedroom though - more than once since she had to relocate - and conducted her own experiments! She even hired an old teacher of hers as an assistant for a time. At the end of the war, another one of her professors asked her to join him in America. She planned on staying a few months, but the experiments went so well she stayed for 30 years!
• Rita is a Senator for Life in Italy, where she gets a lot of bad press from people who disagree with her political opinions. She's fierce though & won't back down, despite her age & gradual loss of hearing & sight.

I think Rita Levi-Montalcini is someone from whom everyone can learn a little something. Her persistence & integrity are certainly laudable; she's definitely someone to look up to.