Events

Celebrating the 100th Anniversary of the Nobel Prize for the Discovery of Insulin to Banting and Macleod: Impact and Legacy

– The Toronto Medical Historical Club 
A symposium reflecting on a century of medical discovery to inspire future research advancement

A highly successful symposium was held November 27, 2023 at 2:00-5:00 EST
Campbell Conference Facility
1 Devonshire Place (at Trinity College) Toronto, Ontario, M5S 3K7 Canada

Video Recording of Symposium


OPEN HOUSE, FISHER RARE BOOK LIBRARY
9:00 am – 12:00 pm 
A special curated display of materials related to the discovery of insulin, including the Nobel Prize medal.

Location: Fisher Rare Book Library, Robarts Library 
120 St. George Street, Toronto, Ontario, Canada


SYMPOSIUM
2:00 pm – 5:00 pm EST – In-person and on Zoom

Location: Campbell Conference Facility, 
1 Devonshire Place (at Trinity College) Toronto, Ontario, M5S 3K7 Canada

Welcome Remarks
Dr. John Dirks, Toronto
Professor Patricia Brubaker, Toronto

“The Optimal Nobel Prize for Physiology or Medicine”
Professor Erling Norrby, Stockholm

“Events, Fanfare, and Fallout Following the Nobel Prize Awarded to Banting and Macleod”
Professor James Wright, Calgary

“The Discovery of Insulin, the Nobel Prize and How it Stimulated Research for Over 100 Years”
Professor Ronald Kahn, Boston

“Beyond Diabetes: GLP-1 is Changing Outcomes for People with Cardiometabolic Diseases”
Professor Daniel Drucker, Toronto

“Insulin and Beyond: Addressing the Challenges of Diabetes in the 21st Century”
Professor Lorraine Lipscombe, Toronto

Panel for Discussion and Q&A


Our Sponsors
"Insulin wins great prize" article in Literary Digest, photographs of Collip, Macleod, Banting, Best
Insulin 100 News

Unveiling of JJR Macleod Memorial Statue in Aberdeen

John Dirks travelled to Aberdeen to speak at the unveiling of a memorial statue commemorating John James Rickard Macleod, co-discoverer of insulin. Over 300 people attended the luncheon and unveiling of the statue.

The JJR Macleod Memorial Statue Society has been working for over a year to raise the funds and commission a sculpture by Ayrshire-based sculptor John McKenna. The statue is located at Aberdeen’s Duthie Park and will be the first “storytelling statue” in Scotland. Visitors will be able to scan a QR code to hear a brief recording of an actor speaking as Macleod.

The unveiling and gala reception was held on October 12, 2023. John also attended the Andrew Carnegie Lecture, October 11, presented by Professor C. Ronald Kahn MD, the Mary K. Iacocca Professor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School and Chief Academic Officer at Joslin Diabetes Centre. This year’s lecture is held in honour of JJR Macleod.