Insulin
In the spring of 1921, Frederick Banting moved into a 7-foot by 9-foot flat in Toronto, with little more than an idea.
Against the advice of his well-wishers, he left behind a struggling medical practice to pursue research at the University of Toronto. He had absolutely no research background nor expertise. However, he was certain he had an idea that could change diabetes treatment.
A Real Motivation: He had a real motivation. As a youngster, he’d watched his 14-year old friend, Jane, wither away and die from diabetes. This event shook him terribly and stayed with him as a motivator. His persistence paid off and his research idea proved to be true, leading to the discovery of insulin, the first true miracle drug.
Insulin: Diabetes is a disease that restricts the body’s ability to produce or to use insulin. Insulin is produced in the pancreas of healthy individuals and is crucial for the regulation of blood sugar (glucose specifically) levels. In Banting's days, no one had ever heard of insulin or knew where it came from or what it did. Banting’s hypothesis was that a specific part of the pancreas produced a substance that could treat diabetes.
Research Involving Dogs: Banting began working in the laboratory of J.J.R. Macleod at the University of Toronto. Despite everyone’s lack of belief, he set out to test his idea of deriving a secretion from a particular area of the pancreas, the Islets of Langerhans. Banting and his assistant, Charles Best, began operating on 10 dogs. After repeated trials, the results were stunning, although temporary.
Coining The Drug: Banting and Best coined the term “isletin” for their extract. Excited, they added a chemist to their team and began producing more 'isletin' so that they could perform larger trials. The University at this point renamed it “insulin”.
Human Testing: Banting now turned his attention towards human testing. But first, they tested it on themselves to convince themselves of its safety. In January of 1922, they tested their solution on their first human patient – a 14 year old boy. The young boy showed immediate improvement. Further testing confirmed its effectiveness, and diabetes finally had a life-saving treatment.
Mass Production: Building on this success, Banting reached back into his childhood once again, and used his farm upbringing to switch his studies to cattle, which were readily available in great quantities.
This allowed for mass production of insulin, resulting in millions of lives saved and countless lives enhanced.
Later Years: In 1941, during WW I, Banting decided to fly to England to conduct a few operational tests with the British medical services. His flight crashed en-route to his destination and Banting succumbed to injuries. His brilliant career as a lifesaving scientist ended all too soon at the age of 49.
With the countless honours and symbolic awards he achieved, he, in fact, went on to gift the greatest and the most priceless prize to humanity in the form of ‘insulin’ that is saving lives even today.
