Thomas Koch, a U of G adjunct biomedical sciences professor at the Ontario Veterinary College, will be a featured speaker at the first annual International Models of Human Diseases conference June 29 at the University of Toronto. Talks will focus on how a range of different models can be used to further research into cures for disease.

The event is being sponsored by the Models of Human Diseases project, which is supported by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research and was started by two University of Toronto researchers. The project’s goal is to accelerate the drug discovery process by improving communication among academic research groups, physicians, pharmaceutical companies and patient advocacy groups.