A Nigerian pharmacist and doctoral researcher at McGill University, Chika Onochie, has won a research grant worth up to CAD$100,000 to study new ways of assessing male fertility.
The award from the Fonds de recherche du Québec will support Onochie’s doctoral research into biomarkers that could provide more information about male fertility beyond conventional semen analysis.
Onochie’s research focuses on identifying molecular indicators that could show whether sperm are functionally capable of fertilising an egg.
He said routine semen analysis, which typically examines factors such as sperm count and morphology, does not provide a complete picture of male fertility.
According to Onochie, his interest in the subject grew from his experience as a pharmacist in Nigeria, where he observed that women often underwent extensive fertility investigations while evaluation of men sometimes ended with a basic semen analysis.
“My training and practice as a pharmacist in Nigeria allowed me to see some of the inequalities surrounding reproductive healthcare firsthand,” he said.
Onochie graduated from the University of Benin in 2021 with First-Class Honours, earning Bachelor of Pharmacy and Doctor of Pharmacy degrees.
He later worked as a clinical pharmacist before moving to Canada for doctoral studies.
He joined McGill University in 2023 to pursue a PhD in Pharmacology, where his research examines molecular changes in sperm and how they may affect their ability to fertilise an egg.
His work has also contributed to scientific literature. In 2025, he co-authored a peer-reviewed review examining redox-induced protein modifications in sperm and their possible effects on sperm function and male infertility.
Onochie said the Québec award was particularly meaningful because the foundation for his scientific career was built in Nigeria.
“Receiving this award is particularly meaningful to me because much of the foundation for my career was built in Nigeria,” he said.
He expressed hope that his research would eventually contribute to better tools for diagnosing male infertility and promote a more balanced approach to reproductive healthcare.
“Infertility is a couple’s issue,” Onochie said. “Improving how we evaluate male fertility is important not only scientifically, but also for creating a more balanced approach to reproductive healthcare.”
