Nigerian pharmacist and doctoral researcher at McGill University, Canada, Chika Onochie has won a major research award in Québec for his work on developing new ways to assess male fertility.
In an official award letter from the school on Thursday, the award, valued at up to CAD $100,000, is meant to support Onochie’s doctoral research int1o biomarkers that could provide additional information about male fertility beyond conventional semen analysis.
“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.
“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,” the letter read.
Onochie’s research focuses on identifying molecular indicators that could reveal whether sperm are functionally capable of fertilisation, an area he says is not adequately captured by routine semen analysis.
His work is being conducted at McGill University under the supervision of reproductive health researcher Prof. Cristian O’Flaherty, whose laboratory focuses on the molecular mechanisms involved in sperm production, function and activation, as well as the development of diagnostic tools for male infertility.
Onochie’s scientific journey began in Nigeria, where he trained as a pharmacist and developed an interest in biomedical research.
Onochie, who graduated from the University of Benin in 2021 with First-Class Honours in Bachelor of Pharmacy and Doctor of Pharmacy degrees, subsequently worked as a clinical pharmacist before moving to Canada for doctoral training.
In a statement on Thursday, the researcher said his experience in Nigeria exposed him to gaps in the way infertility is sometimes evaluated, particularly in relation to men.
“My training and practice as a pharmacist in Nigeria allowed me to see some of the inequalities surrounding reproductive healthcare firsthand.
“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,” Onochie said.
He added that the experience prompted him to investigate what conventional male fertility tests might be missing.
“I came to understand that the problem was not simply that men were being overlooked, but that we still lack reliable biomarkers that can tell us whether sperm are functionally capable of fertilisation,” he said.
Onochie joined McGill in 2023 to pursue a PhD in Pharmacology. His research examines molecular changes in sperm that could eventually help researchers and clinicians better understand their fertilising potential. “One of the problems we face is that routine semen analysis does not tell us everything about whether sperm are functionally capable of fertilisation.
“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,” he added.
His work has also contributed to the scientific literature.
In 2025, Onochie co-authored a peer-reviewed review on redox-induced protein modifications in spermatozoa, examining how such molecular changes may influence sperm function and male infertility.
For him, the Québec award represents more than financial support for his doctoral studies.
He said it is also recognition of the scientific foundation he received in Nigeria.
“Receiving this award is particularly meaningful to me because much of the foundation for my career was built in Nigeria.
“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,” Onochie said.
That experience, he said, prompted him to investigate what conventional male fertility tests might be missing.
Photo caption: Chika Onochie, a Nigerian pharmacist and PhD researcher at McGill University
