Discovery District in Toronto, Ontario — Central Canada (North America)

The Discovery of Insulin

Decouverte De L'Insuline

Photographed by Andrew Ruppenstein, August 19, 2010

1. The Discovery of Insulin Marker

Inscription. Click to hear the inscription.

{The marker has a both an English and French version. In English:}

In one of the most important advances in modern medicine, a team of investigators isolated and purified insulin in a building which stood on this site. On May 17, 1921, Frederick Banting, a young surgeon, and Charles Best, a recent graduate in physiology and biochemistry, began a series of experiments on pancreatic secretions in an attempt to find a treatment for "diabetes mellitus". Working under the general direction of J.J.R. Macleod, an expert in carbohydrate metabolism, they developed a promising anti-diabetic extract. James Collip, a noted biochemist, then increased the purity and potency of the substance. With the first successful clinical test of insulin on a human diabetic on January 23, 1922, Banting, Best, Macleod and Collip ensured prolonged lives for millions of diabetics throughout the world.

Erected by the Ontario Heritage Foundation, Ministry of Culture and Communications

{In French:}
La médecine moderne doit l’un de ses progrès le plus spectaculaires a une équipe de chercheurs qui parvient à isoler

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et a purifier l’insulin. Le 17 Mai, 1921 dans une maison qui s’élevait ici, le jeune docteur Frederick Banting et un diplômé en physiologie et en biochimie. Charles Best, entreprennent une série d’expériences sur les sécrétions pancréatiques, a la recherche d’un traitment du diabète sucré. Sous la direction d’un spécialiste du metabolisme des hyrdocarbonates, J.J.R. McCleod, ils conçoivent un extrait antidiabétique prometteur dont une biochimiste réputé, James Collip, accroît la pureté et l’efficacite. Le 23 janvier, 1922, avec son premier succès clinique sur une diabétique humain, l’équipe de Banting, Best, MacLeod et Collip assure à des millions de diabétiques à travers le monde un moyen de prolonger leur vie.

Érigée par la Fondation du patrimoine ontarien, Ministère de la Culture et des Communications

Erected by Ontario Heritage Foundation.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Science & Medicine. In addition, it is included in the Canada, Ontario Heritage Trust series list. A significant historical month for this entry is January 1933.

Location. 43° 39.677′ N, 79° 23.621′ W. Marker is in Toronto, Ontario. It is in the Discovery District. It is at the intersection of King's College Circle and Kings College Road, on the right when traveling east on King's College

Decouverte de L'Insuline Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Andrew Ruppenstein, August 19, 2010

2. Decouverte de L'Insuline Marker

Circle. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 1 King's College Cir, Toronto ON M5S 1A8, Canada. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Greater Toronto

and on the Golden Horseshoe.

It is also in Central Canada.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once a British colony,

the Viceroyalty of New France,

the Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) Confederacy,

and Rupert’s Land.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Charles William Jefferys (within shouting distance of this marker); Sir Oliver Mowat (about 150 meters away, measured in a direct line); The Royal Tour of 1939 / Le Voyage Royal de 1939 (about 150 meters away); William Lyon Mackenzie (about 150 meters away); The Mackenzie-Papineau Battalion/Le Bataillon Mackenzie-Papineau (about 150 meters away); Hon. George Brown (about 180 meters away); School of Hygiene (about 210 meters away); Queen's Park (about 210 meters away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Toronto.

More about this marker. The marker can be found mounted on the outside wall to the left of the main entrance to the Medical Sciences Building on the campus of the University of Toronto.

Related marker. Click here for another marker that is related to this marker.

Also see . . . August Krogh and the Nobel Prize to Banting and Mcleod. The Nobel Prize Foundation's article on the role played by August Krogh in the awarding of the Nobel Prize for Medicine to Frederick Banting and John Mcleod in 1923. (Submitted on September 27, 2010.)

Additional keywords.

The Discovery of Insulin Marker - Wide View image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Andrew Ruppenstein, August 19, 2010

3. The Discovery of Insulin Marker - Wide View

The English version is on the left, the French version on the right.

Nobel Prize

The Discovery of Insulin Markers - Wider View image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Andrew Ruppenstein, August 19, 2010

4. The Discovery of Insulin Markers - Wider View

The markers are visible here to the left of the entrance of the Medical Sciences Building on the University of Toronto Campus.

C. H. Best and F. G. Banting image. Click for full size.

From the University of Toronto via Wikimedia Commons, circa 1924

5. C. H. Best and F. G. Banting

J.J.R. Macleod image. Click for full size.

From the University of Toronto via Wikimedia Commons, circa 1928

6. J.J.R. Macleod

Credits. This page was last revised on September 12, 2025. It was originally submitted on September 26, 2010, by Andrew Ruppenstein of Lamorinda, California. This page has been viewed 2,710 times since then and 28 times this year. It was the Marker of the Week July 27, 2014. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on September 26, 2010, by Andrew Ruppenstein of Lamorinda, California. 5, 6. submitted on July 26, 2014. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.