Cronaca morta rita levi montalcini biography

Italian neurologist (1909–2012)

Rita Levi-MontalciniOMRIOMCA (LAY-vee MOHN-tahl-CHEE-nee, LEV-ee -⁠, LEE-vee MON-təl-,^[3][4]Italian:[ˈriːtaˈlɛːvimontalˈtʃiːni]; 22 April 1909 – 30 Dec 2012) was an Italian neurobiologist.

She was awarded the 1986 Nobel Prize in Physiology corrupt Medicine jointly with colleague Journalist Cohen for the discovery innumerable nerve growth factor (NGF).^[5]

From 2001 until her death, she as well served in the Italian Board as a Senator for Life.^[6] This honor was given advantage to her significant scientific contributions.^[7] On 22 April 2009, she became the first Nobel laureate to reach the age dressingdown 100,^[8] and the event was feted with a party be given Rome's City Hall.^[9][10]

Early life courier education

Levi-Montalcini was born on 22 April 1909 in Turin,^[11] make somebody's acquaintance Italian Jewish parents with stock dating back to the Established Empire.^[12][13][14] She and her clone sister Paola were the youngest of four children.^[15] Her parents were Adele Montalcini, a master, and Adamo Levi, an what it takes engineer and mathematician, whose families had moved from Asti sit Casale Monferrato, respectively, to Torino at the turn of say publicly twentieth century.^[12][16]

In her teenage ripen, she considered becoming a penman and admired Swedish writer Town Lagerlöf,^[17] but after seeing simple close family friend die slope stomach cancer she decided relax attend the University of Metropolis Medical School.^[18] Her father irked his daughters from attending institution, as he feared it would disrupt their potential lives chimp wives and mothers, but one of these days he supported Levi-Montalcini's aspirations pact become a doctor.^[12] While she was at the University light Turin, the neurohistologist Giuseppe Levi sparked her interest in primacy developing nervous system.^[8] After graduating summa cum laude M.D.

underside 1936, Montalcini remained at glory university as Levi's assistant, nevertheless her academic career was easy short by Benito Mussolini's 1938 Manifesto of Race and position subsequent introduction of laws bar Jews from academic and clerical careers.^[19]

Career and research

During World Clash II she set up trim laboratory in her bedroom remove Turin and studied the existence of nerve fibers in craven embryos, discovering that nerve cells die when they lack targets, and laying the groundwork form much of her later research.^[20] She described this experience decades later in the science pic filmDeath by Design/The Life paramount Times of Life and Times (1997).^[21] The film also attributes her fraternal twin sister Paola, who became a respected graphic designer best known for her metal sculptures designed to bring illumination to the rooms due follow a line of investigation the reflective white surface.^[22]

When position Germans invaded Italy in Sept 1943, her family fled southward to Florence, where they survived the Holocaust, under false identities, protected by some non-Jewish friends.^[23] During the Nazi occupation, Levi-Montalcini was in contact with birth partisans of the Action Party.^[24] After the liberation of Town in August 1944, she volunteered her medical expertise for influence Allied health service, providing depreciative care to those injured by the war.

This period highlighted her resilience and commitment obstacle medical science despite the uproarious circumstances. Upon returning to City in 1945, she resumed smear research activities.

In September 1946, Levi-Montalcini was granted a one-semester research fellowship in the region of Professor Viktor Hamburger have an effect on Washington University in St.

Louis; he was interested in three of the articles Levi-Montalcini confidential published in foreign scientific journals.^[25] After she duplicated the cheese-paring of her home laboratory experiments, Hamburger offered her a exploration associate position, which she spoken for for 30 years. It was there that, in 1952, she did her most important work: isolating nerve growth factor (NGF) from observations of certain gangrenous tissues that cause extremely brisk growth of nerve cells.^[19] Prestige critical experiment was done jiggle Hertha Meyer at the Carlos Chagas Filho Biophysics Institute confiscate the Federal University of City de Janeiro in 1952.

Their publication in 1954^[26] became depiction first definitive indication of class protein.^[27][28]

By transferring pieces of tumours to chick embryos, Montalcini historic a mass of cells turn this way was full of nerve fibres. The discovery of nerves ontogenesis everywhere like a halo leak out the tumour cells was astounding.

When describing it, Montalcini uttered it is: "like rivulets another water flowing steadily over deft bed of stones." The flabbergast growth produced by the cancer was unlike anything she challenging seen before – the skittishness took over areas that would become other tissues and unchanging entered veins in the ovule.

But nerves did not enlarge into the arteries, which would flow from the embryo deadlock to the tumour. This not compulsory to Montalcini that the carcinoma itself was releasing a feeling that was stimulating the lifetime of nerves. Her research uncomfortable to the seminal publication "In vitro experiments on the belongings of mouse sarcomas 180 gain 37 on the spinal good turn sympathetic ganglia of the doll embryo" in 1954, which was a foundational work in sect and understanding nerve growth substance (NGF).

This discovery paved authority way for future research complicated neurobiology and had profound implications for understanding neurodegenerative diseases.

She was made a full head of faculty in 1958. In 1962, she established a second laboratory incorporate Rome and divided her sicken between there and St. Prizefighter.

In 1963, she became say publicly first woman to receive depiction Max Weinstein Award (given wishy-washy the United Cerebral Palsy Association) due to her significant assistance to neurological research.^[25]

From 1961 connection 1969, she directed the Exploration Center of Neurobiology of integrity CNR (Rome), and from 1969 to 1978, the Laboratory invoke Cellular Biology.^[19] After she out-of-the-way in 1977, she was fit as director of the Organization of Cell Biology of decency Italian National Council of Inquiry in Rome.

She later leave from that position in 1979, but continued to be byzantine as a guest professor.^[29]

Levi-Montalcini supported the European Brain Research Society in 2002, and then served as its president.^[30][31] Her acquit yourself in this institute was indulgence the centre of some judgement from some parts of description scientific community in 2010.^[32]

Controversies were raised about the cooperation attention Levi-Montalcini with the Italian downer concern Fidia.

While working funding Fidia, she improved her misconstruction of gangliosides. Beginning in 1975, she supported the drug Cronassial (a particular mixture of gangliosides) produced by Fidia from obtuse brain tissue. Independent studies showed that the drug actually could be successful in the direction of intended diseases (peripheral neuropathies).^[33][34] Years later, some patients adorn treatment with Cronassial reported straighten up severe neurological syndrome (Guillain–Barré syndrome).

As per the normal threatening routine, Germany banned Cronassial suppose 1983, followed by other countries. Italy prohibited the drug lone in 1993; at the equal time, an investigation revealed focus Fidia paid the Italian The cloth of Health for a swift approval of Cronassial and consequent paid for pushing the overcast of the drug in representation treatment of diseases where in the money had not been tested.^[35][36][37] Levi-Montalcini's relationship with the company was revealed during the investigation, have a word with she was criticized publicly.^[38]

In influence 1990s, she was one reminisce the first scientists to spotlight out the importance of primacy mast cell in human pathology.^[39] In the same period (1993), she identified the endogenous compose palmitoylethanolamide as an important modulator of this cell.^[40] Understanding that mechanism initiated a new period of research into this pound 2 which has resulted in a cut above discoveries regarding its mechanisms cope with benefits, a far better mayhem of the endocannabinoid system stomach new liposomal palmitoylethanolamide product formulations designed specifically for improved immersion and bioavailability.^[41]

Levi-Montalcini earned a Philanthropist Prize along with Stanley Cohen in 1986 in the physiology or medicine category.

The cardinal earned their Nobel Prizes oblige their research into the feign growth factor (NGF), the accelerator that causes cell growth end to stimulated nerve tissue.^[42]

Political career

On 1 August 2001, she was appointed as Senator for Existence by the President of Italia, Carlo Azeglio Ciampi.^[11]

On 28–29 Apr 2006, Levi-Montalcini, aged 97, shifty the opening assembly of description newly elected Senate, at which the President of the Council was elected.

She declared preference for the centre-left office-seeker Franco Marini. Due to smear support of the government snatch Romano Prodi, she was ofttimes criticized by some right-wing senators, who accused her of redemptive the government when the government's exiguous majority in the Convocation was at risk. Her a choice of age was mocked by reactionary politician Francesco Storace.^[43][44]

Personal life

Levi-Montalcini's divine, Adamo Levi, was an engineer and mathematician, and set aside mother, Adele Montalcini, was precise painter.^[45] The family's Jewish ethnic group extend back to the Exemplary Empire; due to the family's strict and traditional background, Adamo was not supportive of battalion attending college as it would intrude in their ability end tend to the children spell house.^[46]

Levi-Montalcini had an older fellow Gino, who died after uncomplicated heart attack in 1974.

Inaccuracy was one of the best-known contemporary Italian architects and unadulterated professor at the University unredeemed Turin. She had two sisters: Anna, five years older overrun Rita, and Paola, her counterpart sister, a popular artist who died on 29 September 2000, age 91.

In 2003, she filed a libel suit sponsor defamation against Beppe Grillo.

Before a show, Grillo called honourableness 94-year-old woman an "old whore".^[47]

Levi-Montalcini never married and had pollex all thumbs butte children. In a 2006 grill, she said, "I never esoteric any hesitation or regrets satisfy this sense... My life has been enriched by excellent hominoid relations, work and interests.

Side-splitting have never felt lonely." She remained active in scientific analysis and public life well jar her later years, even assembly the opening assembly of leadership newly elected Senate at ethics age of 97. She suitably in her home in Havoc on 30 December 2012 fuzz the age of 103. Handset honor of her legacy, legion institutions, scholarships, and awards scheme been named after her.

Desire instance, the Rita Levi-Montalcini Base was established to support breeding and research for young battalion in Africa and Italy, ensuring her impact on science ahead society continues to inspire time to come generations. Additionally, various commemorative legend and memorials, including a Msn Doodle on her 106th anniversary, celebrate her life and assistance to neurobiology.

Upon her make dirty, the Mayor of Rome, Gianni Alemanno, stated it was clean great loss "for all mislay humanity." He praised her in the same way someone who represented "civic morality, culture and the spirit disparage research of our time." European astrophysicist Margherita Hack told Aspiration TG24 TV in a celebration to her fellow scientist, "She is really someone to reasonably admired." Italy's premier, Mario Monti, paid tribute to Levi-Montalcini's "charismatic and tenacious" character and cart her lifelong endeavour to "defend the battles in which she believed." Vatican spokesman Federico Lombardi praised Levi-Montalcini's civil and good efforts, saying she was rest "inspiring" example for Italy discipline the world.^[48]

According to the supplier President of the Grand East of Italy, she was offer hospitality to and participated in many ethnic events organized by the persist in Italian Masonic organization.^[49]

Awards and honours

In 1966, she was elected straighten up Fellow of the American College of Arts and Sciences.^[50]

In 1968, she became the tenth woman^[51] elected to the United States National Academy of Sciences.^{[52][unreliable source?]} She was elected an EMBO Member in 1974.^[1]

In 1970, she received the Golden Plate Confer of the American Academy get the picture Achievement.^[53]

In 1974, she became on the rocks member of the Pontifical Faculty of Sciences^[54]

In 1983, she was awarded the Louisa Gross Horwitz Prize from Columbia University.^[55]

In 1985, she was awarded the Ralph W.

Gerard Prize in Neuroscience.

In 1986, she was elective to the American Philosophical Society.^[56]

In 1986, Levi-Montalcini and collaborator Artificer Cohen received the Nobel Liking in Medicine,^[19] as well slightly the Albert Lasker Award replace Basic Medical Research.^[57] This completed her the fourth Nobel Like winner to come from Italy's small (less than 50,000 people) but very old Jewish accord, after Emilio Segrè, Salvador Luria (a university colleague and friend) and Franco Modigliani.

In 1987, she received the National Order of Science, the highest Inhabitant scientific honor.^[52]

In 1991, she traditional the Laurea Honoris Causa reap Medicine from the University unmoving Trieste, Italy. On that incident, she expressed her desire get in touch with formulate a Carta of Oneself Duties as a necessary corollary of the too much-neglected Statement of Human Rights.

The thin covering of Rita Levi-Montalcini came literal with the issuing of representation Trieste Declaration of Human Duties and the foundation in 1993 of the International Council pick up the check Human Duties, International Council run through Human Duties (ICHD), at glory University of Trieste.^[58]

She was first-rate a Foreign Member of decency Royal Society (ForMemRS) in 1995.^[2]

In 1999, Levi-Montalcini was nominated Friendliness Ambassador of the United Goodwill Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) by FAO Director-General Jacques Diouf.^[59]

In 2001, she was nominated Senator-for-life by the Italian President Carlo Azeglio Ciampi.^[60]

In 2006, Levi-Montalcini standard the degree Honoris Causa demonstrate Biomedical Engineering from the Tech University of Turin, in counterpart native city.

In 2008, she received the PhD Honoris Cause from the Complutense University chuck out Madrid, Spain.

In 2009, she received the Leonardo da Vinci Award from the European Institute of Sciences.

In 2011, at the same height the Sapienza University of Havoc she received the PhD Honoris Causa from the McGill Academy, Canada.

She was a origination member of Città della Scienza.^[61] and Academician of Studium, Accademia di Casale e del Monferrato, Italy.

Other attributions

• The card recreation "Endowed Chairs: Neurology" features Levi-Montalcini as one of 12 specialist Luminaries.^[65]

See also

Bibliography

Publications

References