On 22 April 2013 Nobel Laureate Aaron Ciechanover (Technion Israel Institute of Technology) delivered the first Rita Levi-Montalcini Lecture at the University “La Sapienza” in Rome. The Lecture not only focused on Ciechanover’s fundamental work on the ubiquitin proteolytic system, but also paid tribute to the memory of Rita Levi-Montalcini. Participants included many renowned scientists, the Minister of Research and Education, the President of the National Research Council and the Rector of the University “La Sapienza”.