Fox receives honorary doctorate
48-year-old actor was diagnosed with Parkinson's in 1991
March 5, 2010, 3:02 p.m.
STAFF REPORT
Actor Michael J. Fox is receiving an honorary doctorate from Sweden's Karolinska Institute - which also hands out the annual Nobel Prize in medicine - for his work in advocating a cure for Parkinson's disease.
After being diagnosed with Parkinson's in 1991, the 48-year-old Fox launched the Michael J. Fox Foundation to raise money and direct research into promising treatments.
"I'm grateful to the Board of Research and to the Karolinska Institute for this tremendous honor," Fox said.
"It is especially meaningful because our Foundation and the Karolinska Institute share a belief in the power of scientific endeavor to create a future that is better for everyone, and a commitment to act strategically - even unconventionally - to help bring that future closer," Fox added.