OTTAWA, Ont. - 74 lucky individuals will receive the Order of Canada this year, as a result of their contributions to the country.

Governor General Michaelle Jean announced this year's recipients on Wednesday.

Among those given the honour is actor Michael J. Fox, who recently is best known for his battles against Parkinson's disease. Jean's office stated that he has been appointed for his contributions as an advocate for those fighting the disease, and as an actor in film and television.

The British Columbia native is joined by the head of the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Organizing Committee John Furlong, and astronaut Julie Payette, among others.

Payette has made aerospace history in Canada twice: In 1999, she was the first Canadian to visit the International Space Station, and in summer 2009, she met astronaut Robert Thirsk there - making them the first pair of Canadians to be introduced to one another in space.

Three others, including former Progressive Conservative Finance Minister Michael Wilson, are being promoted to companions to the Order of Canada.

http://www.680news.com/news/national/article/72708--michael-j-fox-julie-payette-among-those-to-receive-order-of-canada

The Michael J. Fox Foundation has committed up to $12 million in 2011 funding for prioritized research toward transformative treatments and a cure for Parkinson's disease.

Funding is open to academic and industry researchers through the Foundation's Pipeline Programs, which consist of three annually recurring initiatives, known collectively as The Edmond J. Safra Core Programs for PD Research, as well as the industry-exclusive Therapeutics Development Initiative. The Foundation seeks investigator-initiated proposals focused on the following critical points along the translational pathway to new therapies for Parkinson's disease:

Testing Novel Hypotheses: Quick support for high-risk, high-reward projects with little to no existing preliminary data, but potential to significantly impact our understanding or treatment of PD.
Validating Novel Targets: Support for work demonstrating whether modulation of a novel biological target has impact in a PD-relevant pre-clinical model — an essential step to the development of potential targeted therapies.
Catalyzing and Expanding Preclinical Development: Industry-exclusive support for preclinical development of Parkinson's disease therapies with potential to fundamentally alter disease course and/or improve treatment of symptoms above and beyond current standards of care.
Clinically Testing Novel Therapies: Support for clinical testing of promising PD therapies that may significantly and fundamentally improve treatment of PD.


"The Pipeline Programs are a core element of our Foundation's efforts to drive research that will speed therapeutic development at historically under-funded points on the pipeline," said Todd Sherer, the Foundation's acting CEO. "The programs are part of MJFF's progressive work to keep the most promising and significant projects moving forward toward notably improving quality of life for patients now and in the future."

Brief program descriptions follow. Full details are available at www.michaeljfox.org/research.

Congratulations to Michael J. Fox on this very prestigious and well deserved honor!

link (http://www.usaweekend.com/article/20100430/ENTERTAINMENT06/5020315/Michael-J.-Fox-s-favorite-things)

Michael J. Fox's favorite things
Alice in Chains? The actor shares some surprise picks.
May 2, 2010

Actor Michael J. Fox spends time writing these days. His Lucky Man and Always Looking Up have been best sellers. And now Fox, 48, is back with A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Future (Hyperion, $17.99), filled with advice for this spring's college graduates.

Much of this shared wisdom comes from what life has thrown at him, including alcoholism and Parkinson's disease. His life's work now is raising research funds to battle Parkinson's.

USA Weekend caught up with the Canadian-born actor and asked about some of his favorite things:

Favorite movie of all time, except any of his own:
“That's easy. Dr. Strangelove. I think I saw it as a teenager in an art theater in Vancouver.”

Favorite current politician of his conservative alter ego, Alex P. Keaton from TV's Family Ties:
“He was a strict mercenary. He wanted small government and to make the most money possible. I think he'd be frustrated these days. He'd be suspicious of Obama. He'd like him as a person but suspicious of anyone who wanted to regulate commerce.”

Favorite music:
“I think right now my favorite music is the stuff I grew up on in the '60s and '70s. I took the '80s off but love the music of the early '90s. Nirvana. Soundgarden. Alice in Chains. But I can listen to James Taylor, too.”

Favorite place to go with his four kids (with wife Tracy Pollan) on a Saturday afternoon:
“The beach. And on spring break we always go to the Caribbean. We seem to go to the beach a lot.”

Favorite memory of his grandmother, Nana:
“I'd go to her place after school, and we'd hang out in the kitchen when she did the dishes and told stories. It was like spending time with Yoda, although there wasn't a Yoda then. She was Yoda.”

Favorite piece of clothing:
“I've got a few. I have an old chambray shirt that I've had 30 years. I tell my kids I have clothes older than they are. And I have original concert T-shirts from Tommy Petty with cigarette holes in them.”
— Craig Wilson