By supporting the next generation of researchers, we're ensuring a sustainable future for male contraception. Our commitment to nurturing young talent will drive innovation and accelerate the development of new and improved birth control options.
Our MCI Fellows program supports promising graduate and postdoctoral students who are dedicated to developing non-hormonal, reversible male contraceptives. By providing mentorship, funding, and resources, we empower these young researchers to focus on their research, publish their findings, and build the foundation for successful careers as investigators. Our investment in the next generation of scientists will drive innovation and accelerate the development of new male birth control options.
Fellow HighlightThe next generation of male contraceptives are being developed by some of the brightest minds at the world's best institutions and organizations.
Our Fellows Melanie Balbach, Jae Yeon Hwang, and Max Lyon shared updates on the male contraceptives they are working on during a Lemonade Stand webinar in order to provide a window into the research and development process. |
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Wenxuan (Sharon) Zheng
PhD Candidate
University of Virginia Charlottesville, Virginia |
Wenxuan (Sharon) Zheng is a PhD student in Dr. Seham Ebrahim’s lab in the Department of Molecular Physiology and Biological Physics at the University of Virginia. Her research focuses on structurally and functionally characterizing TMC5, a putative mechanosensitive cation channel essential for spermiogenesis. Supported by the MCI Predoctoral Fellowship, Sharon is working to determine the structure of TMC5 and establish a functional assay, which are critical steps toward the design and validation of a small-molecule inhibitor of TMC5.
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Lokesh SainiPhD Candidate
University of Massachusetts Amherst Amherst, Massachusetts |
Lokesh Saini is a Ph.D. candidate in Dr. Pablo Visconti’s laboratory at the Department of Veterinary and Animal Sciences at the University of Massachusetts Amherst. His research investigates studies on the use of the ubiquitin proteasome signaling (UPS) pathway to target human and mouse testis and sperm-specific serine kinases (TSSKs), which play essential roles in sperm development and function. Additionally, he also is validating the use of Proteolysis Targeting Chimeras as a reversible, non-hormonal approach to male contraception. By focusing on the selective degradation of proteins and signaling pathways involved in sperm motility, capacitation, and fertilization, this work has the potential to transform societal approaches to family planning and reduce unintended pregnancies by diversifying contraceptive options for couples.
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Juan J. FerreiraPostdoctoral Fellow
Washington University School of Medicine St. Louis, MO |
Dr. Juan J. Ferreira is a postdoctoral research fellow in Dr. Celia Santi’s laboratory in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis. Originally from Uruguay, he has built his career on a strong foundation in biophysics, electrophysiology, and ion channel physiology, with a focus on how potassium, sodium, and calcium channels control excitability in reproductive tissues. His work on sperm-specific ion channels—such as the SLO3 potassium channel and the CatSper calcium channel—has helped clarify how these channels regulate membrane potential, intracellular Ca²⁺ dynamics, and the capacitation process essential for fertilization.
With support from MCI, Dr. Ferreira is adapting a patented clinical assay called WHICH- A.R.T. (Which Assisted Reproductive Technique)—a native-cell platform that simultaneously measures sperm membrane potential and intracellular Ca²⁺ and uses these biomarkers to predict IVF fertilization success—into a high-throughput screening system to identify non-hormonal contraceptive compounds that disrupt sperm capacitation and fertilization. He aims to leverage these mechanistic insights into sperm physiology to bridge fundamental ion channel biology with translational assay development, expanding safe, reversible male contraceptive options and reducing the physical, emotional, and financial burden of infertility treatments. Long term, Dr. Ferreira plans to establish an independent research program at the interface of ion channel physiology and reproductive medicine, advancing both contraceptive innovation and more personalized fertility care.
With support from MCI, Dr. Ferreira is adapting a patented clinical assay called WHICH- A.R.T. (Which Assisted Reproductive Technique)—a native-cell platform that simultaneously measures sperm membrane potential and intracellular Ca²⁺ and uses these biomarkers to predict IVF fertilization success—into a high-throughput screening system to identify non-hormonal contraceptive compounds that disrupt sperm capacitation and fertilization. He aims to leverage these mechanistic insights into sperm physiology to bridge fundamental ion channel biology with translational assay development, expanding safe, reversible male contraceptive options and reducing the physical, emotional, and financial burden of infertility treatments. Long term, Dr. Ferreira plans to establish an independent research program at the interface of ion channel physiology and reproductive medicine, advancing both contraceptive innovation and more personalized fertility care.
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Riley TogashiPhD Candidate
Stanford University Stanford, CA |
Riley Togashi is a PhD candidate at Stanford University in James Chen's lab. His research is primarily focused on HIPK4, a protein kinase essential for sperm development. Supported by the MCI, Riley's work focuses on developing novel inhibitors and degraders of this kinase, as well as exploring its mechanistic role in spermiogenesis, towards a nonhormonal form of male contraception.
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Jess DunleavyPostdoctoral Fellow
University of Melbourne Melbourne, Australia |
Dr. Jess Dunleavy is a Research Fellow in Prof. Moira O’Bryan’s Male Infertility and Germ Cell Biology lab in the BIO21 Institute and School of Biosciences at The University of Melbourne. Her research focuses on understanding the fundamental mechanisms that drive sperm production and function. With the support of MCI, Jess is characterizing a novel sperm specific regulator of osmoregulation. This regulator is essential for sperm adaptation to the female reproductive tract, and thus has the potential to be an exciting contraceptive target.
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Felix BennettsPostdoctoral Fellow
Monash University Melbourne, Australia |
Felix Bennetts is a postdoctoral researcher at the Monash Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences at Monash University, working with Assoc. Prof. David Thal and Dr. Sabatino Ventura. His research focuses on the structural and functional properties of the P2X1 receptor, with a particular interest in targeting this receptor for the development of non-hormonal oral contraceptives for men. MCI funding has enabled drug discovery and development on this target, aiming to develop potent compounds that could eventually be used in the clinic. Outside of science, Felix enjoys bouldering and watching sports.
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Ehfazul HaquePhD Candidate
University of Minnesota Minneapolis, MN |
Ehfazul Haque is a PhD candidate in Dr. Gunda Georg’s lab at the Department of Medicinal Chemistry, University of Minnesota. He is working on the discovery and development of Retinoic acid receptor (RAR) inhibitors as male contraceptive agents. RAR signaling is essential for spermatogenesis and sperm release, and pharmacological intervention has been proven to produce reversible sterility in males. The MCI predoctoral fellowship supports Ehfazul’s scientific endeavor and professional development, as well as enabling his future career aspirations of working as a medicinal chemist in industry.
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Jerrett HoldawayPhD Candidate
University of Minnesota Minneapolis, MN |
Jerrett Holdaway is a PhD candidate at the University of Minnesota, where he conducts his research under the guidance of Dr. Gunda Georg. His work focuses on the disruption of testis-specific serine/threonine kinases, which play a pivotal role in sperm development and function. Supported by the MCI, Jerrett is dedicated to developing selective inhibitors and targeted degraders for these key targets in male fertility.
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Zaile ZhuangPostdoctoral Fellow
Stanford University Stanford, CA |
Zaile Zhuang is a postdoctoral researcher in the lab of James Chen on the campus of Stanford University. His research is directed towards HIPK4, a protein necessary for sperm formation and a drug target for male contraception. Supported by MCI, Zaile's work focuses on the development of proteolysis targeting chimeras (PROTACs), which mark a protein for degradation rather than inhibit its function.
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Xiaofang HuangPostdoctoral Fellow
Yale University New Haven, CT |
Xiaofang Huang is a postdoctoral researcher at Yale University, working under the direction of Jean-Ju Chung. Her research is focuses on CatSper, a protein complex required for sperm to fertilize the egg and a particularly attractive drug target for male contraception. Supported by MCI, Xiaofang is developing a mouse model that allows for screening of male contraceptive molecules that target CatSper.
Interested in becoming an MCI Fellow? More information on our Funding Opportunities page.
Completed Grants & Fellowships
Male Contraceptive Initiative has provided funding support to the research community investigating new methods of non-hormonal, reversible male contraceptives since 2017. For a list of our previous grant awardees and fellowships, click here.