A Nigerian pharmacist and doctoral researcher at McGill University, Chika Onochie, has won a major research award in Québec to support his work on developing new methods for assessing male fertility.
The award, valued at up to CAD$100,000, will support Onochie’s doctoral research into biomarkers that could provide additional information about male fertility beyond conventional semen analysis.
According to an official award letter from McGill University, the funding was approved under the Fonds de recherche du Québec (FRQ) Doctoral Research Scholarships Programme following a positive recommendation from a peer-review committee.
Onochie’s research focuses on identifying molecular indicators that can help determine whether sperm are functionally capable of fertilising an egg. He said conventional semen analysis does not always provide enough information about a man’s fertility.
His research is being conducted at McGill University under the supervision of reproductive health researcher, Professor Cristian O’Flaherty. The laboratory studies the molecular mechanisms involved in sperm production, function and activation, as well as the development of diagnostic tools for male infertility.
Onochie began his scientific career in Nigeria, where he trained as a pharmacist. He graduated from the University of Benin in 2021 with First-Class Honours, obtaining 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.
According to Onochie, his professional experience in Nigeria exposed him to inequalities in the way infertility is sometimes assessed, particularly among men.
He explained that while women undergoing infertility treatment often receive extensive investigations, evaluation of the male partner may sometimes end with a basic semen analysis that examines factors such as sperm count and morphology.
That experience encouraged him to investigate what conventional male fertility tests may be missing.
Onochie said his research aims to identify functional biomarkers that could provide a more comprehensive assessment of male fertility, particularly in cases where routine testing fails to explain the cause of infertility.
His research has also contributed to scientific literature. In 2025, he co-authored a peer-reviewed review examining redox-induced protein modifications in sperm cells and how such molecular changes may affect sperm function and male infertility.
Speaking about the Québec award, Onochie said it was particularly meaningful because much of the foundation for his career was built in Nigeria.
He said the recognition demonstrated that the scientific education and training he received in Nigeria had prepared him to compete internationally.
Onochie hopes his research will eventually contribute to improved tools for understanding male infertility and promote a more balanced approach to reproductive healthcare.
“Infertility is a couple’s issue,” he said, stressing the importance of improving how male fertility is evaluated.
Tags
World News