Sanger, Ruth Anne (1918-2001)

Also known as
Sanger, Ruth Ann (1918-2001)
Field of activity
Author and Haematologist; Haematologist
NLA Persistent Identifier
http://nla.gov.au/nla.party-756058

Biographies

Dr Ruth Sanger was an internationally known expert in blood grouping, who for many years worked for the Medical Research Council in London. Ruth Sanger, the daughter of Hubert and Katharine Mary Ross (née Cameron) Sanger, obtained her Science Degree from Sydney of University in 1940. She then worked in the blood-grouping laboratory of the Sydney Red Cross Blood Transfusion Service. After the Second World War Sanger moved to London and worked for Dr Robert Race, her future husband, at the Medical Research Council. In 1950 she co-wrote Blood Groups in Man, with her husband and they released their sixth and final edition in 1975. Dr Sanger also contributed papers to medical and genetic journals. She was admitted as a fellow of Britain's Royal Society in 1972 and in the same year she was a joint receiptant of the Gairdner Foundation Award. In 1983 Dr Sanger retired as director of the British Medical Research Council, a position she had held for ten years. She was a member of the International Society of Blood Transfusion and an affiliate of similar groups in Canada, Germany, Mexico and Norway. The British Blood Transfusion Society has established the Race and Sanger Award.

  • 1936 - 1939 Played in the inter-Varsity basketball team
  • 1936 - 1939 Attended the Women's College within the University of Sydney
  • 1937 Treasurer of the Women's College dance committee
  • 1938 Secretary of the Women's College dance committee
  • 1938 Member of the Students' House committee
  • 1938 Awarded Caird scholarship in zoology
  • 1938 Honorary treasurer of the basketball club
  • 1938 Vice-captain of the basketball team
  • 1939 Awarded the Grace Frazer scholarship
  • 1940 Worked with the Science Research School in the Department of Zoology at the University of Sydney
  • 1940 Graduated Bachelor of Science (BSc)
  • 1940 - 1946 On the scientific staff of the New South Wales Red Cross Blood Transfusion Service
  • 1946 Travelled to London to work with Dr R Race, director of Medical Research Council's Blood Group Unit
  • 1946 - 1973 Scientific staff member of the Blood Group Unit of the Medical Research Council, London
  • 1948 Awarded her Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) from the University of London
  • 1949 Returned to Sydney and worked with the Blood Transfusion Service
  • 1957 Awarded the Karl Landsteiner Memorial Award (with R Race), United States of America
  • 1970 Awarded the Philip Levene Award, United States of America
  • 1972 Awarded a Fellow of the Royal Society, London
  • 1972 Awarded the Gairdner Foundation Award, Canada
  • 1973 Awarded the Oliver Memorial Award for Blood Transfusion from the British Red Cross
  • 1973 - 1983 Director of the Blood Group Unit of the Medical Research Council (London)
  • 1990 Received Doctor of Medicine (MD (Honoris Causa)) from the Helsinki University
  • 1990 The Ruth Sanger Oration established by the Australasian Society of Blood Transfusion
  • 1991 Awarded a gold medal from the Australasian Society of Blood Transfusion

View the full record at Australian Women's Register

Ruth Sanger began her career as a haematologist at the Red Cross Blood Transfusion Service in Sydney. After World War II she moved to England where she embarked on a successful career that lead to her being appointed director of the British Medical Research Council in 1973.

After completing her school studies, Ruth Sanger enrolled in Science at Sydney University. She graduated with a science degree in 1938 and joined Sydney's Red Cross Blood Transfusion Service two years later. Her initial role was working in the plasma drying plant, but then moved to the blood-grouping laboratory. This sparked her interest in haematology, especially in the rhesus blood group system. To further her research, Sanger moved to London (after World War II) and began working at the Medical Research Council's Blood Group Unit. There she worked with Dr Robert Race who was later to become her husband.

While at the Blood Group Unit Sanger studied blood genetics and undertook a PhD in the field. She completed it in 1948 and two years later was co-author with Race of Blood Groups in Man. The book was prominent for 30 years with six editions published. It was recognised as the 'Bible' for blood groupers. Ruth Sanger was instrumental in many haematological discoveries, including the Xg blood grouping system. This system is one of the few whose genes are sex-linked i.e. linked to X chromosomes. Sanger was appointed Director of the Medical Research Council in 1973 and held this position until she retired in 1983. Finally in 1972 Ruth Sanger was recognised for her contribution to science and made a Fellow of the British Royal Society.

  • 1938 Education - Bachelor of Science (BSc) completed at the University of Sydney
  • 1940 - c. 1946 Career position - Haematologist at the Red Cross Blood Transfusion Service in Sydney
  • c. 1946 - c. 1972 Career position - Haematologist at the British Medical Research Council's blood group unit, UK
  • 1948 Education - Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) completed at London University
  • 1950 Career position - Blood Groups in Man released
  • 1972 Career position - Fellow of the Royal Society (FRS), London
  • 1973 Award - Oliver Memorial Award for Blood Transfusion received from the British Red Cross
  • 1973 - 1983 Career position - Director of the British Medical Research Council

View the full record at Encyclopedia of Australian Science

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  2. OLD NANCY'S GLORY BOX INTERESTING LETTERS.
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