Charles Best (1899-1978),Canadian physiologist. Whilst studying for his medical degree in Toronto,Best worked as an assistant to Dr Frederick Banting,who was working on diabetes and the regulation of blood sugar. Banting won the 1923 Nobel Prize for Physiology or Medicine,alongside J. J. R. Macleod,for the discovery of the hormone insulin. Banting was incensed that his assistant was not recognised for his role in the discovery,and donated half of his prize money to Best. Later,Best succeeded Macleod as professor of physiology at Toronto. This portrait is from the Bain News Service,one of America's oldest news picture agencies,which holds images dating from the 1890s to the 1930s |