PHOTOS: Philanthropy during a public health crisis has shaped the history of human society

DIABETES AND A SYMBOLIC DOLLAR

Though diabetes is one of the first human diseases on record and had been known for over 3,000 years, its exact nature had been a mystery. Canadian physician Frederick Banting (right) had no experience in research but was intrigued by the idea of discovering the hormone that regulates the metabolism of sugar. Working with assistant Charles Best, Banting had his breakthrough in the summer of 1921 when they isolated insulin from canine test subjects, successfully administering the serum to a patient on January 23, 1922. Finding it unethical to profit from their discovery, Banting and Best sold the insulin rights for a symbolic dollar to the University of Toronto, a philanthropic act intended to ensure that insulin would be readily available to all who need it.