100th anniversary of the discovery of Insulin

We celebrate the 100th anniversary of the discovery of Insulin, by setting the scene and presenting the controversial story.

The discovery of insulin in 1921 transformed diabetes treatment from a death sentence to a treatable chronic condition. The breakthrough work was performed by the University of Aberdeen medical school graduate JJR Macleod, an expert in carbohydrate metabolism and diabetes, along with Frederick Banting who were awarded the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine in 1923 for the discovery of insulin. Today, as a global scientific community we celebrate the 100th anniversary of the discovery of Insulin. However, the story was not without controversy, and for decades JJR Macleod had been airbrushed from the history books. In this talk, we will discuss the role of this Scottish-educated scientist and other members of the team and reflect upon advances in diabetes treatment and care.