Michael J. Fox Foundation Funds $3B in Parkinson's Research

After 25 years of fighting Parkinson's disease both personally and publicly, Michael J. Fox is receiving one of science's highest honors for helping push research closer to a cure than ever before.

The 65-year-old actor and advocate is being honored with the Lasker-Bloomberg Public Service Award, sometimes called America's Nobel Prize. His foundation has funded more than $3 billion in Parkinson's research since he created it in 2000, just a decade after first experiencing symptoms at age 29.

Fox decided early on to use his celebrity from starring in Back to the Future and Family Ties to accelerate progress. "My name could attract attention to help us achieve our goals faster," he told PEOPLE. "But I also have this disease. I know the issues and I share my community's sense of urgency."

The decision to stay in the public eye hasn't been easy. Fox experiences tremors and balance issues that have intensified over time. "Of course, things have gotten harder over the years," he admits.

But his foundation's work has transformed Parkinson's research worldwide. The Lasker Foundation praised Fox for helping "dispel the stigma of the disease and spearhead a revolution in the world of PD research."

Fox joins an elite group of past honorees including Bill and Melinda Gates and Anthony Fauci. He says the recognition belongs equally to "the researchers and clinicians on the front lines of cure hunting, and the patients and families who critically inform that mission."

The actor, who won five Emmys and four Golden Globes over his career, recently returned to acting after retiring twice. He earned another Emmy nomination this year for a guest role on Shrinking, playing a character with Parkinson's.

Why This Inspires

Fox could have quietly managed his disease privately with the best medical care money can buy. Instead, he chose to become the public face of Parkinson's, knowing his visibility could speed up research for everyone. His foundation hasn't just raised money. It's changed how scientists approach the disease, funding innovative research and bringing urgency to finding treatments. Fox turned his diagnosis into a mission that's touched millions of lives.

Despite the physical challenges he faces daily, Fox remains optimistic about the future.