UNIBEN Graduate Chika Onochie Wins CAD$100,000 PhD Research Scholarship at McGill University in Canada

UNIBEN First-Class graduate Chika Onochie wins a Canadian research award worth up to CAD$100,000 for his male fertility study

Nigerian pharmacist and doctoral researcher at McGill University in Canada, Chika Onochie, has received a research award valued at up to CAD$100,000 to support his work on new approaches to assessing male fertility.

Onochie, who is pursuing a PhD in Pharmacology at McGill University, was selected for the Fonds de recherche du Québec Doctoral Research Scholarships programme following the Fall 2025 competition. According to the award letter, the funding followed a positive recommendation from the peer-review committee and subsequent deliberation by the organisation’s Board of Directors.

His doctoral research is examining molecular biomarkers that could provide information about male fertility beyond conventional semen analysis. The study is particularly focused on identifying molecular indicators capable of showing whether sperm are functionally capable of fertilising an egg.

The research is being conducted under the supervision of Professor Cristian O’Flaherty, a reproductive health researcher whose laboratory studies molecular mechanisms associated with sperm production, function and activation, as well as the development of diagnostic approaches for male infertility.

The research addresses an important limitation in conventional male fertility assessment. While routine semen analysis examines parameters such as sperm count and morphology, Onochie’s work seeks to investigate whether additional molecular information could provide a more comprehensive understanding of sperm function in cases where standard testing does not adequately explain infertility.

Onochie’s interest in the subject was shaped partly by his professional experience in Nigeria. He trained as a pharmacist at the University of Benin, graduating in 2021 with First-Class Honours in Bachelor of Pharmacy and Doctor of Pharmacy degrees, before working as a clinical pharmacist and later moving to Canada for doctoral training.

Reflecting on his Nigerian training, Onochie said his experience exposed him to inequalities in the evaluation of infertility, particularly the extent to which investigations could focus on women while assessment of men sometimes ended with basic semen analysis.

He explained that this experience led him to question whether conventional tests were capturing the full picture of male reproductive health and eventually directed his research towards identifying functional biomarkers that could provide additional information about sperm fertilising capacity.

Onochie joined McGill University in 2023 for his doctoral studies. His current research examines molecular changes in sperm and how those changes may relate to sperm function and male infertility, with the longer-term objective of contributing to improved tools for understanding reproductive health.

Beyond the financial value of the award, Onochie described the recognition as meaningful because the foundation of his scientific career was developed in Nigeria. He said the award demonstrated that the education and scientific training he received in Nigeria provided a foundation that enabled him to compete in an international research environment.

His academic work has also contributed to the scientific literature. In 2025, he co-authored a peer-reviewed review examining redox-induced protein modifications in spermatozoa and their possible implications for sperm function and male infertility.

The award also highlights the role of advanced doctoral research in addressing specialised health questions that require interdisciplinary scientific approaches. By investigating molecular characteristics of sperm rather than relying exclusively on conventional parameters, Onochie’s research is positioned within a broader effort to improve the understanding and diagnosis of male reproductive problems.

For Onochie, the ultimate objective extends beyond academic recognition. He hopes his findings will contribute to better approaches to evaluating male infertility and encourage greater balance in reproductive healthcare, particularly because infertility involves both partners.

“Infertility is a couple’s issue,” he said, stressing the importance of improving how male fertility is assessed alongside existing approaches to female reproductive healthcare.

The CAD$100,000 award therefore represents both financial support for Onochie’s doctoral research and recognition of a research programme seeking to address an identified limitation in conventional male fertility assessment. The award is, however, conditional on the necessary budgetary appropriations by Québec’s National Assembly and relevant decisions of the Fonds de recherche du Québec Board.