In 2013, the International Organisation for Medical Physics named cancer scientist Barry Allen, 75, of Yowie Bay, one of the world's 50 top medical physicists.
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Now Professor Allen has been named an Officer in the General Division of the Order of Australia (AO) for his distinguished service to biomedical physics, particularly to radiation oncology and the development of innovative methods of cancer treatment.
Professor Allen was a principal research scientist at St George Cancer Care Centre between 1994 and 2012.
Before that he was chief research scientist at ANSTO.
He regards the research he did at St George into targeted alpha therapy for melanoma as a career highlight.
A paper he wrote on the subject will be published soon in the Journal for Melanoma Management.
"Taking something from the lab and getting into clinical trial is a major accomplishment and very difficult to do," he said.
He said highlights such as that accomplishment and being named in the Queen's Birthday honours list offset career downturns.
In Professor Allen's case, his biggest career achievement was also the source of his greatest disappointment, after his "promising" clinical trial was shut down midway through.
The retired scientist is a life member of the Australasian College of Physical Scientists and Engineers in Medicine.
He also happens to be a World Masters Games champion weightlifter who competed in Italy in 2013.
Professor Allen was planning to celebrate the honour yesterday at a barbecue with family and friends.
