MICHAEL J FOX - FOX TO ATTEND STATE OF THE UNION ADDRESS

Hollywood star MICHAEL J FOX is taking his embryonic stem-cell research campaign straight to the top - he'll be attending US President GEORGE W BUSH's State of the Union address next week (begs22JAN07). The actor, a staunch supporter of the controversial research since being diagnosed with Parkinson's disease 15 years ago, will be a guest of Rhode Island Republican JIM LANGEVIN, who shares his views. Langevin has been confined to a wheelchair since a shooting accident in his teens. In a statement, the BACK TO THE FUTURE star said, "Congressman Langevin is a tireless champion for the advancement of medical research, and I am honoured to join him next week at the State of the Union." In 2005 Langevin invited CHRISTOPHER REEVE's widow DANA to the event. She died of lung cancer last year (06) but the politician is confident her concerns will be well-represented by Fox next week. He says, "I am sure Michael will help to further Chris and Dana's legacy and underscore for the President just how serious I am about pursuing the promise of stem cell research."