The Australian Women's Register

Summary

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 recipient 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.

Events

• 1938

  Vice-captain of the basketball team

• 1940

  Worked with the Science Research School in the Department of Zoology at the University of Sydney

• 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

• 1949

  Returned to Sydney and worked with the Blood Transfusion Service

• 1946 - 1973

  Scientific staff member of the Blood Group Unit of the Medical Research Council, London

• 1973 - 1983

  Director of the Blood Group Unit of the Medical Research Council (London)

• 1972

  Awarded a Fellow of the Royal Society, London

• 1990

  Received Doctor of Medicine (MD (Honoris Causa)) from the Helsinki University

• 1991

  Awarded a gold medal from the Australasian Society of Blood Transfusion

• 1990

  The Ruth Sanger Oration established by the Australasian Society of Blood Transfusion

• 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 the Gairdner Foundation Award, Canada

• 1973

  Awarded the Oliver Memorial Award for Blood Transfusion from the British Red Cross

• 1936 - 1939

  Attended the Women’s College within the University of Sydney

• 1939

  Awarded the Grace Frazer scholarship

• 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

• 1940

  Graduated Bachelor of Science (BSc)

• 1948

  Awarded her Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) from the University of London

• 1938

  Awarded Caird scholarship in zoology

• 1938

  Honorary treasurer of the basketball club

• 1936 - 1939

  Played in the inter-Varsity basketball team