Charles Herbert Best contributed to the 1921 isolation of the pancreatic hormone insulin while serving as a student laboratory assistant at the University of Toronto. This work established a foundation for effective diabetes treatment. Throughout a career defined by physiological and biochemical research, he later directed the Banting and Best Department of Medical Research at the same institution.
Academic and Military Background
Born in 1899 in Washington County, Maine, Best attended Harbord Collegiate Institute before enrolling at the University of Toronto in 1915. His education was interrupted by service in the Canadian Army, where he reached the rank of acting Sergeant Major. Following his return, he completed degrees in physiology and biochemistry, eventually serving as a long-term faculty member at the University of Toronto.
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In 1921, while working under professor John Macleod, Best assisted surgeon Frederick Banting in experiments involving pancreatic extracts from dogs. The team, later joined by biochemist James Collip to refine the purification process, successfully demonstrated the utility of the extract. The researchers sold the patent for insulin to the University of Toronto for one dollar. Despite his central role, the Nobel Prize Committee awarded the 1923 prize to Banting and Macleod, excluding Best.
Professional Contributions and Recognition
Best succeeded Macleod as the professor of physiology at the University of Toronto in 1929. Beyond insulin, his research interests included choline and heparin. His later career involved serving as an adviser to the Medical Research Committee of the World Health Organization. He received numerous accolades throughout his life, including the Baly Medal in 1939 and the Croonian Medal and Lecture in 1955, and held memberships in various international scientific societies.
Fast facts
- Born: 1899, Washington County
- Died: 1978, Toronto
- Education: University of Toronto
- Profession: Physician, physiologist, biochemist
- Burial: Mount Pleasant Cemetery
- Citizenship: Canada
Questions readers ask
Did Charles Herbert Best receive a Nobel Prize?
No. Although he was nominated 14 times between 1950 and 1954 for his work on the lipotropic effect of choline, he never received the award.
Where did Charles Herbert Best conduct his primary research?
He spent his career at the University of Toronto, where he served as chair of the Banting and Best Department of Medical Research.
Achievements
- Fellow of the Royal Society
- Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada
- Held posts at University of Toronto
- Educated at Harbord Collegiate Institute and University of Toronto
- Fields of research: physiology
