ABUJA / MONTREAL — A Nigerian pharmacist and doctoral researcher at McGill University, Chika Onochie, has won a major research award worth up to CAD $100,000 from Québec's Fonds de recherche du Québec (FRQ) for his research work on new biomarkers to assess male fertility in Canada.
The award, granted under the FRQ's Doctoral Research Scholarships programme for the Fall 2025 competition, will support Onochie's PhD research into molecular indicators that can provide a more complete picture of male fertility beyond conventional semen analysis.
According to an official award letter from McGill sighted by Nigerian media, the funding followed a positive recommendation from a peer-review committee.
The letter 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 FRQ noted that the award is conditional upon budgetary appropriations by Québec’s National Assembly and decisions by its Board of Directors.
Research Focus: Beyond Semen Analysis
Onochie's research focuses on identifying molecular indicators that can help determine whether sperm are functionally capable of fertilising an egg — information not adequately captured by routine semen analysis.
Currently, male infertility is often assessed through standard semen analysis, which checks parameters such as sperm count, motility and morphology. Researchers say those tests don't always explain why some couples still struggle to conceive.
His work, being conducted at McGill under the supervision of Prof. Cristian O’Flaherty, whose laboratory studies the molecular processes involved in sperm production, function and activation, examines molecular changes in sperm that could help researchers and clinicians better understand their fertilising potential.
Onochie explained:
“One of the problems we face is that routine semen analysis does not tell us everything about whether sperm are functionally capable of fertilization. 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,”
### Inspired By Experience In Nigeria
Onochie said his interest in the field was shaped by his experience as a pharmacist in Nigeria, where he observed gaps in the assessment of male infertility.
“My training and practice as a pharmacist in Nigeria allowed me to see some of the inequalities surrounding reproductive healthcare firsthand,” he 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.”
That experience prompted him to investigate what conventional 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 fertilization,” he added.
Academic Journey
Onochie began his academic training in Nigeria, graduating from the University of Benin in 2021 with First-Class Honours in Bachelor of Pharmacy and Doctor of Pharmacy programmes. He later worked as a clinical pharmacist before relocating to Canada in 2023 to pursue a PhD in Pharmacology at McGill University.
He has also contributed to scientific literature, including a 2025 peer-reviewed review examining redox-induced protein modifications in sperm and their potential effects on sperm function and male infertility.
A Recognition Of Nigerian Training
For Onochie, the Québec award is more than financial support.
“Receiving this award is particularly meaningful to me because much of the foundation for my career was built in Nigeria,” he said. “My training there gave me the foundation to compete internationally, and I am proud to carry that foundation forward in my research.”
He described the recognition in a highly competitive process as a reflection of the quality of education and scientific training he received in Nigeria.
Looking ahead, Onochie says his long-term goal is to contribute to better tools for understanding male infertility and promote a more balanced approach to reproductive healthcare.
“Infertility is a couple’s issue,” he said. “Improving how we evaluate male fertility is important not only scientifically, but also for creating a more balanced approach to reproductive healthcare.”