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Cited by 64Medical History and InnovationsHistory of Science and MedicineHistorical Medical Research and Treatments

Insulin's centenary: the birth of an idea

Hegele, Robert A, Maltman, Grant M·2020·The Lancet Diabetes & Endocrinology
DOI 10.1016/s2213-8587(20)30337-5
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Abstract

At 2:00 h on Oct 31, 1920, Frederick G Banting, a surgeon practising in London, ON, Canada, conceived an idea to isolate the internal secretion of the pancreas. The following week, he met with noted scientist John J R Macleod in Toronto, ON, Canada, and they developed a research plan. By August, 1921, Banting and his student assistant Charles H Best had prepared an effective extract from a canine pancreas. In January, 1922, biochemist James B Collip isolated insulin that was sufficiently pure for human use. On Oct 25, 1923, Banting and Macleod received the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine for the discovery of insulin. Here, we recount the most relevant events before and after the fateful early morning of Oct 31, 1920, which culminated in the discovery and clinical use of insulin.

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Crossref · 10.1016/s2213-8587(20)30337-5

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54 of 54 references verified0 citation errors · 0 not checkable

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Cites

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Research works printed but not linked: 7

  1. Barron, 1920, The relation of the islets of Langerhans to diabetes with special reference to cases of pancreatic lithiasis, Surg Gynecol Obstet, 31, 437
  2. Paulescu, 1921, Action de l'extrait pancréatique injecté dans le sang, chez un animal diabétique, C R Seances Soc Biol Fil, 85, 555
  3. Paulescu, 1921, Recherches sur le rôle du pancréas dans l'assimilation nutritive, Arch Int Physiol, 17, 85
  4. Macleod, 1922, The source of insulin: a study of the effect produced on blood sugar by extracts of the pancreas and principal islets of fishes, J Metab Res, 2, 149
  5. De Meyer, 1909, Action de la sécrétion interne du pancreas sur différents organes et en particulier sur la sécrétion renale, Arch Fisiol, 7, 96
  6. Collip, 1923, The original method as used for the isolation of insulin in semipure form for the treatment of the first clinical cases, J Biol Chem, 55, xl
  7. Banting, 1922, The effect produced on diabetes by extracts of pancreas, Trans Assoc Am Physicians, 37, 337

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Authors
Hegele, R. A., & Maltman, G. M.
Affiliations
  • Western University (CA)
  • Diabetes Canada (CA)
Corresponding author
Hegele, Robert A
ORCID
Hegele, Robert A
Venue
The Lancet Diabetes & Endocrinology
Publisher
Elsevier BV
Published
2020-12
Volume
8
Issue
12
Pages
971-977
ISSN
2213-8587 (ISSN-L)
DOI
10.1016/s2213-8587(20)30337-5
OpenAlex
W3096071972
Semantic Scholar
dda4cde8305f1963ab8fe9dd4bda3a04bc6b69ad
Cited by
64
References
54
Citations by year
2026: 4 · 2025: 3 · 2024: 5 · 2023: 13 · 2022: 13 · 2021: 26
FWCI
48.10
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
closed
Licence
Locations
  • The Lancet Diabetes & Endocrinology (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
Funders
  • Canadian Institutes of Health Research
  • Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada (G-18–0022147)
Topics
  • Social Sciences › Arts and Humanities › History › Medical History and Innovations
  • Social Sciences › Arts and Humanities › History and Philosophy of Science › History of Science and Medicine
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Radiology, Nuclear Medicine and Imaging › Historical Medical Research and Treatments
Keywords
insulin discovery, Frederick Banting, pancreatic extract, diabetes treatment, history of insulin, insulin purification
MeSH terms
Animals, Diabetes Mellitus, Dogs, Humans, Hypoglycemic Agents, Insulin, Nobel Prize, Pancreas, Research Design, History, 19th Century, History, 20th Century, History, 21st Century

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