Nigerian pharmacist and McGill University PhD researcher Chika Onochie has won a CAD $100,000 research grant in Québec to develop better ways of assessing male fertility beyond traditional semen analysis. The award, worth over ₦110 million depending on exchange rates, comes through Québec's Fonds de recherche du Québec (FRQ) under its Doctoral Research Scholarships programme.
Research aims to improve male fertility testing
Onochie's doctoral research focuses on identifying biomarkers—molecular indicators that can reveal whether sperm are actually capable of fertilising an egg, even when routine test results appear normal. This addresses a critical gap: standard semen analysis checks sperm count, movement, and shape, but researchers say those tests don't always explain why some couples still struggle to conceive.
“My training and practice as a pharmacist in Nigeria allowed me to see some of the inequalities surrounding reproductive healthcare firsthand,” Onochie said. “When couples experienced infertility, women often underwent extensive investigations, whereas evaluation of the man could end with a basic semen analysis examining parameters such as sperm count and morphology.”
Award letter confirms FRQ support
In an official award letter, the FRQ stated: “Following the positive recommendation of the peer-review committee that evaluated your application, and in accordance with the deliberations of the Board of Directors of the Fonds de recherche du Québec (FRQ), we are pleased to inform you that the scholarship application you submitted under the Doctoral Research Scholarships program in the Fall 2025 competition will receive financial support from the FRQ.”
The letter added: “You will find attached the CAD $100,000 offered, as well as the results obtained for each of the program’s evaluation criteria. This award is conditional upon the adoption by the National Assembly of Québec of the necessary budgetary appropriations, in accordance with the provisions of the Financial Administration Act (CQLR, c. A-6.001), and upon decisions of the FRQ Board of Directors related to its strategic planning. The award may be modified at any time, without prior notice.”
From UNIBEN first-class graduate to international researcher
Onochie graduated from the University of Benin in 2021 with First-Class Honours, earning both Bachelor of Pharmacy and Doctor of Pharmacy degrees. After working as a clinical pharmacist in Nigeria, he relocated to Canada in 2023 to begin his PhD in Pharmacology at McGill University, one of Canada's leading research institutions.
His current work investigates molecular changes in sperm that could help scientists and fertility specialists better predict whether sperm can successfully fertilise an egg. “One of the problems we face is that routine semen analysis does not tell us everything about whether sperm are functionally capable of fertilization,” he explained. “My research aims to identify functional biomarkers that could provide a more complete assessment of male fertility, particularly in cases where conventional testing does not adequately explain why a couple is experiencing infertility.”
Beyond his ongoing doctoral work, Onochie has also contributed to scientific research. In 2025, he co-authored a peer-reviewed review examining how redox-induced protein modifications in sperm may affect sperm function and male infertility.
'Nigeria gave me the foundation'
For the Nigerian researcher, the award is more than funding. He believes it also reflects the quality of education and scientific training he received back home. “Receiving this award is particularly meaningful to me because much of the foundation for my career was built in Nigeria,” Onochie said. “To be recognised in a highly competitive process alongside other well-trained researchers is also a reflection of the quality of education and scientific training I received in Nigeria. My training there gave me the foundation to compete internationally, and I am proud to carry that foundation forward in my research.”
He added that improving male fertility testing could make reproductive healthcare fairer for couples everywhere. “Infertility is a couple’s issue. Improving how we evaluate male fertility is important not only scientifically, but also for creating a more balanced approach to reproductive healthcare.”
