Frederick Banting (14 November 1891 – 21 February 1941) was a Canadian medical scientist and physician. In 1923, Frederick Banting was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine.
Life and Career
Frederick Banting was born on 14 November 1891, in  Alliston, Ontario, Canada.
Banting attended the University of Toronto, where he studied medicine and graduated with his medical degree in 1916.
During World War I, Banting served as a medical officer in the Canadian Army Medical Corps.
In 1921, he began his research at the University of Toronto with the goal of finding a treatment for diabetes. This led to the discovery of insulin. Banting, along with his colleague Charles Best, successfully isolated insulin and demonstrated its ability to lower blood sugar levels in diabetic dogs.
The discovery of insulin revolutionized the treatment of diabetes and saved countless lives. Banting and Best were granted a patent for insulin, and Banting used the proceeds from the patent to establish the Banting and Best Department of Medical Research at the University of Toronto.
Frederick Banting passed away on 21 February 1941, in during a World War II mission over the North Atlantic.
Award and Legacy
Frederick Banting was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine in 1923 for his role in the discovery of insulin. He shared the prize with Charles Best. Banting remains one of the youngest Nobel laureates in history, having received the award at the age of 32.
Banting’s discovery of insulin was a groundbreaking achievement in medical science, and it transformed the lives of individuals with diabetes. His dedication to medical research and his commitment to improving the lives of patients with diabetes continue to be celebrated.
The Banting and Best Department of Medical Research at the University of Toronto remains a center for diabetes research and is named in his honor.
Banting’s legacy is also commemorated through the annual Banting Lecture, which features prominent researchers in the field of diabetes and endocrinology.
