Charles Best

Dr. Charles Herbert Best, CC, (February 27, 1899 – March 31, 1978) was a medical scientist.

Related Topics:
CC - February 27 - 1899 - March 31 - 1978

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He was born in West Pembroke, Maine, USA to Canadian parents.

Related Topics:
Pembroke, Maine - USA - Canadian

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While a 22-year-old student studying medicine at the University of Toronto, he worked as an assistant to Dr. Frederick Banting and played a role in the discovery of the pancreatic hormone insulin—one of the most significant advances in medicine at the time, enabling an effective treatment of diabetes.

Related Topics:
University of Toronto - Frederick Banting - Insulin - Diabetes

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The Nobel Prize committee had chosen to honor J.J.R. Macleod for the discovery of insulin—ignoring Best. This incensed Banting, who then voluntarily shared half of his 1923 Nobel Prize in Medicine award money with Best.

Related Topics:
J.J.R. Macleod - 1923 - Nobel Prize in Medicine

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Dr. Best succeeded Macleod as professor of physiology at University of Toronto in 1929. During World War II he was influential in establishing a Canadian program for securing and using dried human blood serum. In his later years, Prof. Best would act as adviser to the medical research committee of the United Nations World Health Organization.

Related Topics:
World War II - Canadian - Blood serum - United Nations - World Health Organization

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In 1967 he was made a Companion of the Order of Canada. In 1994 he was inducted into the Canadian Medical Hall of Fame. In 2004, he was inducted into the National Inventors Hall of Fame.

Related Topics:
Order of Canada - 1994 - Canadian Medical Hall of Fame - 2004 - National Inventors Hall of Fame

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Prof. Best is interred in Mount Pleasant Cemetery, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.

Related Topics:
Mount Pleasant Cemetery - Toronto, Ontario - Canada

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