Ruth Spearing

Ruth Lilian Spearing CNZM is a New Zealand haematologist, and researches blood cancer. In 2023 Spearing was appointed a Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit for services to haematology.

Ruth Spearing CNZM
Spearing in 2023
Awards	Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit
Academic background
Alma mater	University of Otago
Academic work
Institutions	Christchurch Hospital, Canterbury District Health Board

Career

Spearing attended the University of Otago.^[1] She has worked as a consultant haematologist at Christchurch Hospital since 1989, and is the clinical director of haematology at Canterbury District Health Board.^[2] From 2003 until 2017 Spearing served as Chair of the Canterbury Hospitals’ Medical Staff Association.^[2] Spearing was also Canterbury Clinical Lead for the Adolescent and Young Adult Cancer Service.^[2] Spearing was also a board member of the New Zealand Medical Association, and a trustee of the Chronic Lymphocytic Leukaemia Advocates New Zealand.^[3][4]

Spearing led the New Zealand involvement in international collaborative trials with the UK's Medical Research Council and the Australasian Leukaemia and Lymphoma Group.^[2] These trials have investigated treatments for a range of blood cancers including myeloma, chronic lymphocytic leukaemia, acute lymphocytic and myeloid leukaemia, and have resulted in increased survival rates from 13% for acute myeloid leukaemia in the 1980s to 65 per cent.^[2]

In 2008 Spearing established the Ruth Spearing Cancer Research Trust, to support haematology research in the South Island.^[2]

In 2024 Spearing led calls for Pharmac chief executive Sarah Fitt to step down after an Official Information Act request revealed internal communications showing disdain for patients and their advocates.^[5] Spearing has been critical of Pharmac's approach to funding new drugs, especially drugs for blood cancers, pointing out that New Zealand funds far fewer blood cancer drugs than other countries.^[6][7]

Honours and awards

In the 2023 King's Birthday and Coronation Honours Spearing was appointed a Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit for services to haematology.^[2][8] Spearing is a Life Member of ALLG, the Australasian Leukaemia and Lymphoma Group.^[8]

Selected works

• Mats Brune; Sylvie Castaigne; John Catalano; et al. (23 March 2006). "Improved leukemia-free survival after postconsolidation immunotherapy with histamine dihydrochloride and interleukin-2 in acute myeloid leukemia: results of a randomized phase 3 trial". Blood. 108 (1): 88–96. doi:10.1182/BLOOD-2005-10-4073. ISSN 0006-4971. PMID 16556892. Wikidata Q28303488.
• J. T. Reilly; J. A. Snowden; R. L. Spearing; P. M. Fitzgerald; N. Jones; A. Watmore; A. Potter (1 July 1997). "Cytogenetic abnormalities and their prognostic significance in idiopathic myelofibrosis: a study of 106 cases". British Journal of Haematology. 98 (1): 96–102. doi:10.1046/J.1365-2141.1997.1722990.X. ISSN 0007-1048. PMID 9233570. Wikidata Q50945096.
• Smith SR; Cheesbrough J; Spearing R; Davies JM (1 August 1989). "Randomized prospective study comparing vancomycin with teicoplanin in the treatment of infections associated with Hickman catheters". Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy. 33 (8): 1193–1197. doi:10.1128/AAC.33.8.1193. ISSN 0066-4804. PMC 172623. PMID 2529814. Wikidata Q35341106.
• JA Snowden; GR Hill; P Hunt; S Carnoutsos; RL Spearing; E Espiner; DNJ Hart (28 July 2000). "Assessment of cardiotoxicity during haemopoietic stem cell transplantation with plasma brain natriuretic peptide". Bone Marrow Transplantation. 26 (3): 309–313. doi:10.1038/SJ.BMT.1702507. ISSN 0268-3369. PMID 10967571. Wikidata Q57252641.
• Logan C Walker; Jane Stevens; Hamish Campbell; et al. (1 June 2002). "A novel inherited mutation of the transcription factor RUNX1 causes thrombocytopenia and may predispose to acute myeloid leukaemia". British Journal of Haematology. 117 (4): 878–881. doi:10.1046/J.1365-2141.2002.03512.X. ISSN 0007-1048. PMID 12060124. Wikidata Q33342795.
• Yago Nieto; Nigel Patton; Timothy Hawkins; et al. (1 February 2006). "Tacrolimus and mycophenolate mofetil after nonmyeloablative matched-sibling donor allogeneic stem-cell transplantations conditioned with fludarabine and low-dose total body irradiation". Biology of Blood and Marrow Transplantation. 12 (2): 217–225. doi:10.1016/J.BBMT.2005.10.012. ISSN 1083-8791. PMID 16443519. Wikidata Q46916859.