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Frederick Grant Banting
1891–1941 · Diabetes and insulin research
Frederick Banting initiated the Toronto experiments that helped turn insulin into a lifesaving diabetes treatment through the work of a four-person research team.
Why is this scientist famous?
Banting played an initiating role in the Toronto research that led to the first effective insulin treatment. In 1921 he worked with Charles Best under J. J. R. Macleod's direction; James Collip's purification work was essential before insulin could be used effectively in patients.
Insulin allows people who lack enough of the hormone to control blood glucose. For people with type 1 diabetes, its availability transformed a condition that was commonly fatal in childhood into one that could be managed with continuing treatment and care.
Frederick's story
A doctor shaped by war
Frederick Grant Banting grew up on a farm near Alliston, Ontario. He enrolled in arts at the University of Toronto in 1910, left that programme and re-entered in 1912 to study medicine. He completed his medical degree in December 1916 and served with the Canadian Army Medical Corps during the First World War. Although initially rejected for military service because of his eyesight, he enlisted during his studies and served in France as a battalion medical officer in 1918. Wounded near Cambrai in 1918, he earned the Military Cross for bravery. He returned from the war intending to build a surgical and medical career rather than a life as a laboratory researcher.
A difficult practice and a midnight idea
In 1920 Banting moved to London, Ontario, where his new medical practice struggled to attract patients. To earn income he taught part-time at a medical school. While preparing material about the pancreas on 31 October 1920, he had an idea about isolating the substance from pancreatic islets that helps regulate blood sugar. Earlier researchers had already connected the pancreas with diabetes and sought such an extract; Banting did not invent the concept of insulin from nothing. His proposal was a specific experimental approach, and he needed experienced help to test it.
The Toronto experiments were teamwork
Banting approached J. J. R. Macleod, an expert in carbohydrate metabolism at the University of Toronto. Macleod supplied laboratory facilities, dogs, scientific guidance and the assistant Charles Best. In May 1921 Banting and Best began demanding animal experiments; each learned practical skills from the other. On 30 July they reported a substantial fall in blood glucose after injecting a pancreatic extract into a diabetic dog. But this was not yet a ready-made medicine. Macleod’s continued supervision and the arrival of biochemist James Collip were crucial to analysing, refining and eventually translating the result into treatment.
Two injections, very different outcomes
In January 1922, fourteen-year-old Leonard Thompson became an early human patient in the Toronto project. On 11 January, an injection of the early extract lowered his blood sugar but had little useful clinical effect. After Collip developed a purer preparation, another injection on 23 January produced a successful response. That distinction matters: finding biological activity in an animal extract and developing a preparation fit for patients are different achievements. The broader team, hospitals and laboratories then had to improve purification, consistency and production so that insulin could reach people beyond a few initial cases.
A Nobel prize and more than medicine
The 1923 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine went to Banting and Macleod. Banting shared his prize money with Best, while Macleod shared his with Collip, acknowledging two colleagues left off the award. In April 1922 he helped establish a diabetes clinic at Christie Street Hospital, with support from colleagues, and treated patients as insulin became more available. He became a public figure, was knighted in 1934, and pursued painting, including an Arctic trip with artist A. Y. Jackson. During the Second World War he returned to military-related service and died after a plane crash in Newfoundland in February 1941. The lasting achievement was the team’s transformation of insulin into a usable therapy.
What did they discover?
Initiating the Toronto programme
Proposed an experimental approach and secured support to investigate a pancreatic extract for diabetes.
Animal-experiment evidence
Worked closely with Charles Best to demonstrate blood-glucose lowering from pancreatic extracts in 1921.
Development of insulin as treatment
With Macleod and Collip, contributed to the research and clinical programme that made effective human insulin therapy possible in 1922.
Early diabetes clinical work
With colleagues’ support, established a diabetes clinic at Christie Street Hospital in April 1922 and treated patients with insulin.
Amazing facts
His first university subject was arts, with thoughts of entering the ministry, before he switched to medicine.
Poor eyesight initially blocked his army application, but he later served in France as a battalion medical officer.
He was awarded the Military Cross following his service and injury near Cambrai in 1918.
The insulin research idea came while he was preparing to teach about the pancreas in October 1920.
His medical practice in London, Ontario, had been struggling to attract patients just before the breakthrough.
In July 1921 a pancreatic extract measurably lowered the blood sugar of a diabetic experimental dog.
The first injection given to Leonard Thompson was unsatisfactory; a better purified preparation worked later that month.
When only he and Macleod won the Nobel Prize, Banting gave half his prize money to Charles Best.
Away from medicine, he painted and travelled to the Canadian Arctic with the artist A. Y. Jackson.
He was knighted in 1934 but died in a wartime aircraft crash in 1941.
Timeline
Born in the Alliston area, Ontario.
Re-entered the University of Toronto to study medicine.
Completed his medical degree at the University of Toronto. Reported for active military service the following morning.
Was wounded at Cambrai; his actions later earned the Military Cross.
Conceived his pancreatic-islet experiment while preparing teaching notes.
Worked with Best on promising pancreatic-extract experiments in Toronto.
Toronto team achieved effective insulin treatment of Leonard Thompson using a purified extract.
Shared Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine with Macleod.
Was knighted.
Died after an aircraft crash in Newfoundland on 21 February.