Eyevine Keystone USA December 2010

1923 - London, Ontario, Canada - Sir FREDERICK BANTING, KBE, MC, FRSC, (November 14, 1891 - February 21, 1941) was a Canadian medical scientist, doctor and Nobel laureate noted as one of the co-discoverers of insulin. On 17 May 1921 he began his research at the University of Toronto, under the supervision of Professor John Macleod. Assigned a single assistant to help him, Charles Best. The efforts of the team in 1921-1922 culminated in developing the ability to obtain a pancreatic extract that was both active in humans, and pure enough to avoid infections and inflammations after injection. Banting originally named the extract islitin, but the name was subsequently changed to insulin. Diabetic Leonard Thompson was the first human to be treated. Hailed as one of the most significant advances in medicine at the time. Insulin was not only discovered, but put into mass production in a matter of months. Immediately it began to extend the lives of millions of people worldwide who suffered from the endocrine disease diabetes mellitus that could not be treated and had a very poor prognosis. People who suffered from problems with fat and protein metabolism, leading to blindness and then death only had a short time after the onset of the illness. In 1923 Banting and Macleod received the Nobel Prize in Medicine. Banting shared the award money with his assistant Charles Best. The Canadian government gave him a lifetime annuity to work on his research. In 1934 King George V bestowed a knighthood on him, making him Sir Frederick Banting. He died in an air disaster in Newfoundland at the age of 49. Banting was also known for his art work as a painter... (Credit Image: ? KEYSTONE Pictures USA)/ eyevine