Emeritus Professor Christian Joseph Lueck

Congratulations to Professor Christian Joseph Lueck, PhD FRACP FRCP(UK) for being awarded  Member of the Order of Australia. This award is one of the highest civilian honors in Australia. 

Emeritus Professor Christian Lueck started his Neurology career at the National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery, Queen Square, London, UK before moving to Edinburgh, UK, as a consultant neurologist in 1994.  He then moved to Canberra in Australia in 2003. At the Canberra Hospital and the Australian National University Medical School he was highly regarded as a neurologist, as a Head of Department, and as a researcher and a teacher.  

In January, Christian was recognised in the 2024 Australia Day Honours “for significant service to neurology and neuro-ophthalmology through medical research and clinical practice”.  Since his arrival in Australia, he has been a key member of the Neuro-Ophthalmology Society of Australia (NOSA), serving as its President over many years. In addition, he introduced NOSA’s annual NeuroVision Training weekend in 2006, an educational course which has been a huge help to trainees in neurology, ophthalmology and neurosurgery over the years. His dedication to teaching earned him a National Award for Excellence in University Teaching from the Australian Learning and Teaching Council in 2010.  

Christian has been an international member of NANOS since 2004 and served as the Chair of the International Relations Committee from 2014 to 2018.  He was awarded a Merit Award by NANOS in 2019 and in 2021 he was awarded the E. Graeme Robertson Award by the Australian and New Zealand Association of Neurologists for career achievements in neuroscience. 

His research is highly regarded: he has published 130 peer-reviewed papers and a further 75 as part of various research consortia. He has been fortunate to have been able to work with many outstanding individuals over his career and has published in many different areas. Notable publications include the first description of the colour area (V4) in man and the clinical reference range of normal CSF opening pressure at lumbar puncture.

In recognition of his many years of service and dedication to neurology and neuro-ophthalmology, Christian was awarded one of Australia’s highest civilian honours, being appointed a Member of the Order of Australia. This award is presented twice a year on Australia Day and the King’s Birthday to “recognise the outstanding service and contributions of Australians in a particular locality or field of activity to a particular group”. We congratulate him on this award and thank him for his tireless efforts to advance Neuro-ophthalmology, both in Australia and around the world.