Diabetes Epidemiology and Management (Jan 2022)
The discovery of insulin
Abstract
The initiative for the work that led to the discovery of insulin in Toronto in 1921 came from Frederick G. Banting. He worked under the direction of John J. R. Macleod in the Institute of Physiology at the University of Toronto. He was assisted in his experimental program by the student Charles H. Best. In dogs with experimental diabetes, they demonstrated the blood sugar-lowering effect of pancreatic extracts. Thanks to the support of Macleod and the collaboration with James B. Collip, a biochemist from the University of Alberta who was on sabbatical in Toronto, the work was quickly crowned with success and the first applications of the extracts in humans became possible in January 1922. Soon after, in 1923, Banting and Macleod were awarded the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine. Banting shared his half of the prize money with Best, while Macleod shared his half with Collip. That their research was successful in such a short time was due in large part to Banting's abilities as a surgeon, Best's enthusiasm as a student, Collip's abilities as a biochemist, and Macleod's guidance in bringing the group together and providing it with the necessary resources.
