“Contraceptives are the greatest life-saving, poverty-ending, women-empowering innovation ever created.”
- Melinda French Gates, American philanthropist
- Melinda French Gates, American philanthropist
Introduction: "Bridging the Gap"
Revisiting a previous year’s efforts is always a welcome component of creating an organization’s annual report. It is very easy to get caught up in the rigors of daily roles and responsibilities and lose the proverbial forest from the trees, and this is especially true for small organizations with massive missions like Male Contraceptive Initiative. After all, in 2021 there were only 5 staff members at MCI working to do nothing short of changing the world by providing reproductive autonomy for all! Assembling our annual report is therefore an opportunity to look back, reflect, and share a summary of the incredible work we were able to accomplish and support.
During this period of introspection and reflection, the MCI staff looked to identify a through-line that captured the essence of the activities that defined 2021 and made it one of our most productive years to date. After evaluating our efforts, we arrived at “bridging the gap” as the theme for 2021.
Here are some of the ways that we championed bridging the gap in 2021:
During this period of introspection and reflection, the MCI staff looked to identify a through-line that captured the essence of the activities that defined 2021 and made it one of our most productive years to date. After evaluating our efforts, we arrived at “bridging the gap” as the theme for 2021.
Here are some of the ways that we championed bridging the gap in 2021:
|
We expanded our funding portfolio through grants, Program Related Investments, and related activities that will help bring promising contraceptives for sperm-producers closer to market, while simultaneously providing long-term support for research and development of contraceptive methods for sperm-producers.
|
|
We partnered with leading organizations on global market studies to assess male contraceptive knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors, among men and women (results coming soon!)
|
|
We introduced a robust database of non-hormonal, reversible contraceptive targets in an effort to educate and excite the research community and general public about the myriad opportunities that exist. |
|
We created a library of educational primers and animated shorts to make the science of male reproductive biology and contraceptives for sperm-producers more accessible and engaging. (By the end of 2021, the animated shorts were viewed over 27,000 times on YouTube!)
|
|
In an effort to demonstrate the global impact potential of providing more contraceptives for sperm-producers, we created a series connecting male contraception and the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals.
|
The following sections provide granularity into the activities that helped define an unforgettable year spent moving forward together.
"For the first time this allows women not be the sole bearers of responsibility when it comes to contraception. It felt nice to be part of something that gives women more freedom."
- Male Contraception Clinical Trial Participant
- Male Contraception Clinical Trial Participant
Male Contraceptive Initiative's Executive Director Heather Vahdat's Annual Letter
Dear All,
When our team proposed “Bridging the Gap” as the theme for our 2021 Annual Report, it was immediately clear that it was the right fit. One of the aspects of our work that we are most passionate about, second only to funding research and development of novel methods of non hormonal male contraception, is ensuring that the road ahead is clear for our development partners.
We all know that most of this path, the path to market, is still uncharted for male contraceptive products. A gap that has historically felt insurmountable. There are many ways to address a gap. One approach is to fill the void with fragmented bits of information, or silos of knowledge that create a bumpy and inefficient pathway; a competitive gauntlet where the finish line is reached with unnecessary cost and inefficient attempts due to repeated mistakes. Costs that ultimately and unfairly impact those for whom the products were meant to help.
Another approach is to work together, bringing knowledge, experience, successes, and challenges, all contributing to a structural framework that can benefit an entire community of developers and their stakeholders. A bridge. This is the approach that our male contraceptive research community has adopted.
We are proud to be part of a research community that continues to demonstrate a commitment to meaningful collaboration, cooperation, and knowledge sharing. A community that has mindfully decided to build a bridge together, embracing opportunities to give back in the wake of success, as the case with our Program Related Investments. A community who embraces learning and sharing experiences through webinars and participation in ideation events. A community that is committed to not only developing novel methods of male birth control, but to understanding how to develop methods with characteristics that end users want. A community supported by donors who are committed to expanding the reproductive method mix and to the vision of “Reproductive Autonomy for All”.
And we are proud to be working with, and grateful to be supported by, each of you reading this report. We hope that you are equally proud to see our shared accomplishments as detailed in the following sections.
Warm regards,
When our team proposed “Bridging the Gap” as the theme for our 2021 Annual Report, it was immediately clear that it was the right fit. One of the aspects of our work that we are most passionate about, second only to funding research and development of novel methods of non hormonal male contraception, is ensuring that the road ahead is clear for our development partners.
We all know that most of this path, the path to market, is still uncharted for male contraceptive products. A gap that has historically felt insurmountable. There are many ways to address a gap. One approach is to fill the void with fragmented bits of information, or silos of knowledge that create a bumpy and inefficient pathway; a competitive gauntlet where the finish line is reached with unnecessary cost and inefficient attempts due to repeated mistakes. Costs that ultimately and unfairly impact those for whom the products were meant to help.
Another approach is to work together, bringing knowledge, experience, successes, and challenges, all contributing to a structural framework that can benefit an entire community of developers and their stakeholders. A bridge. This is the approach that our male contraceptive research community has adopted.
We are proud to be part of a research community that continues to demonstrate a commitment to meaningful collaboration, cooperation, and knowledge sharing. A community that has mindfully decided to build a bridge together, embracing opportunities to give back in the wake of success, as the case with our Program Related Investments. A community who embraces learning and sharing experiences through webinars and participation in ideation events. A community that is committed to not only developing novel methods of male birth control, but to understanding how to develop methods with characteristics that end users want. A community supported by donors who are committed to expanding the reproductive method mix and to the vision of “Reproductive Autonomy for All”.
And we are proud to be working with, and grateful to be supported by, each of you reading this report. We hope that you are equally proud to see our shared accomplishments as detailed in the following sections.
Warm regards,
Heather Vahdat, MPH
Executive Director
Executive Director
"When I think of just one unintended or mistimed pregnancy that is prevented due to the availability of additional male contraceptive methods, I also see the cascading impact: an equitable relationship between a couple who has the opportunity to plan for a healthy pregnancy or achieve their desire not to have children, a woman who is able to continue her education, or her career as she desires without enduring the risk of complications from an unintended pregnancy. I see an opportunity for greater economic outcomes at the individual, family, and societal level due to reduced health care costs and the ability to prepare for the costs of caring for and educating a child. I also see a reduced demand on environmental resources and a major step towards achieving all of the sustainable development goals."
- Heather Vahdat, MPH, Male Contraceptive Initiative's Executive Director
- Heather Vahdat, MPH, Male Contraceptive Initiative's Executive Director
Organizational Overview
|
Male Contraceptive Initiative’s mission is to empower sperm-producers, and couples, to fully contribute to family planning goals by providing them the resources they need to achieve reproductive autonomy. Currently, there are only two contraceptives for sperm-producers on the market: condoms and vasectomy. The lack of male options both prevents sperm-producers from meaningfully participating in family planning and puts an undue burden on egg-producers to bear the responsibility of using contraception in order to avoid an unintended pregnancy.
We can and must do better! |
Male Contraceptive Initiative's Vision Statement
|
Male Contraceptive Initiative (MCI) was founded in 2014 in order to meaningfully address the lack of contraceptive options for sperm-producers. We are a global hub for researchers, philanthropists, and advocates searching for ways to advance the development of novel safe, non-hormonal, reversible contraceptives for sperm-producers. We believe that doing so empowers sperm-producers, egg-producers, and couples to better manage their family planning objectives, and that this will help reduce the 120+ million unintended pregnancies that occur globally each year.
MCI is working diligently to reimagine the contraception ecosystem and make it more inclusive and empowering for all people, irrespective of gender. After all, the only way to achieve reproductive autonomy for anyone is by providing contraceptive resources to everyone!
MCI is working diligently to reimagine the contraception ecosystem and make it more inclusive and empowering for all people, irrespective of gender. After all, the only way to achieve reproductive autonomy for anyone is by providing contraceptive resources to everyone!
Our work is critical to improving family planning, and is divided into two interconnecting pillars of activities:
|
FUNDING
We provide support to the research and development community developing non-hormonal, reversible contraceptives for sperm-producers through investments, grants, professional development opportunities, and more.
|
ADVOCACY
We support the research community and contraceptive advocates through outreach efforts that include a robust website, social media, films, infographics, webinars, and other resources that educate the general public and promote the work being done to make new contraceptive products for sperm-producers a reality.
|
We believe that developing new methods of non-hormonal, reversible contraception for sperm-producers will reduce instances of unintended pregnancy, increase contraceptive acceptability, expand contraceptive prevalence rates, and decrease instances of unmet need with respect to family planning products.
Male Contraceptive Initiative's Theory of Change
“Male contraception is an opportunity. An opportunity for a global impact that helps people across the economic, health, and social spectrum. I also think it's a challenge, both for those developing new male methods of contraception, as well as the potential users of those methods; it's a challenge to rise to the times and contribute towards something that really, truly, can change the world.”
- Logan Nickels, PhD, Male Contraceptive Initiative’s Research Director
- Logan Nickels, PhD, Male Contraceptive Initiative’s Research Director
Highlights from 2021
At Male Contraceptive Initiative we view every challenge as an opportunity and, despite all that 2021 threw our way, this year proved to be one of our most productive and impactful years yet.
We share some of the best moments from our 2021 in the infographic below, and map each of these accomplishments to our organizational principles to illustrate how they align with our vision and mission.
We share some of the best moments from our 2021 in the infographic below, and map each of these accomplishments to our organizational principles to illustrate how they align with our vision and mission.
MCI's 2021 Highlights
“It’s a fundamental human issue. What makes us human? It’s our ability to control our own destiny; ‘free will’. We men don’t have the ability to control our reproductive health. That has negative ramifications for our relationship dynamics, sustainability, everything really. A lack of male options abdicates men’s responsibility in the reproductive health conversation. Whether or when to have children is an individual decision and we need to have products that empower people to make the best decision for them.”
- Kevin Shane, Male Contraceptive Initiative’s Marketing & Communications Director
- Kevin Shane, Male Contraceptive Initiative’s Marketing & Communications Director
Funding
Our investment strategy is focused on maximizing impact while accelerating the research and development timelines for new male contraceptives.
We commit as much of our funding as possible towards programs and activities that facilitate research and development of new male contraceptive products and to support professional development of the next generation of researchers and advocates. This strategy positions Male Contraceptive Initiative to achieve impact in both the short-term and long-term.
The graphic below provides detail into how we utilized our 2021 funding to advance the male contraception field:
We commit as much of our funding as possible towards programs and activities that facilitate research and development of new male contraceptive products and to support professional development of the next generation of researchers and advocates. This strategy positions Male Contraceptive Initiative to achieve impact in both the short-term and long-term.
The graphic below provides detail into how we utilized our 2021 funding to advance the male contraception field:
Male Contraceptive Initiative's 2021 Funding Activities
Male Contraceptive Initiative's Funding Strategy
“For me male contraception is just about more options. I'm excited for what it could do for gender and sexual minorities who are currently underserved. I'm excited for ciswomen to have the option to be able to contracept without taking contraception. And I want cismen to have reproductive autonomy.”
- Kathryn Carpenter, MPH, Male Contraceptive Initiative’s Advocacy Strategist
- Kathryn Carpenter, MPH, Male Contraceptive Initiative’s Advocacy Strategist
Research
Grantees & Investment Partners
Our diverse mix of funding activities include grants structured to accelerate contraceptive development, Program Related Investments that promote promising technologies, and support for young professionals working in the male contraceptive space.
Our funding strategy represents a holistic opportunity for support across every step of the product development pathway, and our grants are designed for impact, working across disciplines, institutions, and borders. We also make key investments in discrete activities related to male contraceptive development, attitudes, and social determinants in order to illustrate the demand for and impact of new methods of male contraception.
Meet the Grantees that received support from Male Contraceptive Initiative in 2021:
Our diverse mix of funding activities include grants structured to accelerate contraceptive development, Program Related Investments that promote promising technologies, and support for young professionals working in the male contraceptive space.
Our funding strategy represents a holistic opportunity for support across every step of the product development pathway, and our grants are designed for impact, working across disciplines, institutions, and borders. We also make key investments in discrete activities related to male contraceptive development, attitudes, and social determinants in order to illustrate the demand for and impact of new methods of male contraception.
Meet the Grantees that received support from Male Contraceptive Initiative in 2021:
MCI is supporting Dr. Mannowetz’s work in moving towards first-in-man studies of a reversible male contraceptive that prevents the production of new sperm.
|
MCI’s grants support IND-enabling milestones that are required for Eppin Pharma to reach its goal of submitting an IND application to the FDA and entering first-in-man studies of their male contraceptive candidate, EP055
|
MCI is supporting Dr. Benhabbour’s work in developing a novel long-acting, reversible contraceptive (LARC) delivery device that could result in months or years of efficacy at a time.
|
MCI’s support for Dr. Georg’s work comes in the form of grants as well as a program-related investment and allows Dr. Georg's lab to do early development on multiple avenues of male contraception.
|
MCI is supporting Dr. Chung’s work in developing a screening platform that allows the identification of small molecule inhibitors of CatSper.
|
MCI’s support allows Dr. Garcia to not only revive the Mammalian Reproductive Genetics Database (MRGD), but also perform a genetic analysis to demonstrate that specific contraceptive targets are associated with infertility.
|
Fellows
Trainee support provided to undergraduate and graduate students is another key component of our research funding strategy. Providing the financial and human resource support for these students both ensures the completion of important investigative work, and that male contraception is viewed as a viable career path for a young investigator. Through these efforts, we provide support from the classroom to the boardroom, meaningfully contributing to keeping talented researchers interested in the male contraception field working towards realizing the next generation of male contraceptive methods.
Meet the Fellows that joined the Male Contraceptive Initiative family in 2021:
Trainee support provided to undergraduate and graduate students is another key component of our research funding strategy. Providing the financial and human resource support for these students both ensures the completion of important investigative work, and that male contraception is viewed as a viable career path for a young investigator. Through these efforts, we provide support from the classroom to the boardroom, meaningfully contributing to keeping talented researchers interested in the male contraception field working towards realizing the next generation of male contraceptive methods.
Meet the Fellows that joined the Male Contraceptive Initiative family in 2021:
Carla Ritagliati
Carla is a postdoctoral researcher at Weill Cornell Medicine in New York City. Her project is on sAC, an adenylyl cyclase essential for sperm to reach and fertilize the oocyte. In a collaborative project across institutions, the Levin/Buck laboratory has successfully developed highly potent and selective sAC inhibitors. |
Candice Yi Tian Yap
Candice is a PhD candidate in Dr Zhibing Zhang’s lab at the Department of Physiology, Wayne State University. Her research revolves around the investigation of the association between PACRG (parkin co regulated gene) and DNALI1 (dynein light intermediate polypeptide 1), two proteins intimately involved with sperm structure and function. |
Brendan Houston
Brendan is a postdoctoral researcher working with Moira O’Bryan at the Bio21 Institute and School of BioSciences at the University of Melbourne, Australia. His research has recently shown that malate dehydrogenase 1B (MDH1B), a novel sperm specific energy protein, is essential for male fertility. |
“I wish people knew how impactful it could be having different effective male contraceptives. I hope people come to learn the intentions of those who are creating and advocating for male contraceptives. I wish that everyone knew that male contraceptives could change their sexual and reproductive lives for the better. Also, I wish everyone knew how challenging the process of developing a contraceptive method for commercial use is.”
- Jaylan Weaver, MCI Youth Advisory Board Member
- Jaylan Weaver, MCI Youth Advisory Board Member
Advocacy
Educating the general public about male reproductive biology and contraception is a vital part of our work, as is promoting the great work being done all over the world to address the imbalance in contraceptive methods that puts an undue burden on egg-producers to manage family planning goals.
By providing educational resources we can empower the public to be advocates for the field. These efforts also help to ensure that the world at large is not only prepared and excited for the next generation of contraception, but knowledgeable as well. We view Male Contraceptive Initiative as a platform for collaboration and knowledge-sharing; a one-stop shop for all information related to non-hormonal, reversible contraception for sperm-producers.
In 2021, this manifested in multiple ways, including:
By providing educational resources we can empower the public to be advocates for the field. These efforts also help to ensure that the world at large is not only prepared and excited for the next generation of contraception, but knowledgeable as well. We view Male Contraceptive Initiative as a platform for collaboration and knowledge-sharing; a one-stop shop for all information related to non-hormonal, reversible contraception for sperm-producers.
In 2021, this manifested in multiple ways, including:
- Creating a library of educational primers and animated shorts to make the science of male reproductive biology and contraceptives for sperm-producers more accessible
- Developing a series connecting male contraception and the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals in an effort to connect contraceptives for sperm-producers to sustainability goals and challenges
- Publishing a forum that outlines the purpose of and funding opportunities provided by Male Contraceptive Initiative
- Designing a robust set of “Personas” and related activities for the research community and general public to utilize in brainstorming about the contraceptives of the future
Advocating for Male Contraception
“Controlling one's reproduction is a human right - not just for women.”
- MCI Donor
- MCI Donor
Donor Highlight
Contraception for sperm-producers is an under-funded and under-researched area of scientific enquiry that has incredible potential to address many pressing challenges affecting the world today.
|
Nonprofits like MCI play an extremely critical role in ensuring research and development activities receive the support they need to continue.
Consider this: between 2018-2020 a mere $257 million was invested in contraception research and development for all genders. Philanthropic sources like MCI accounted for nearly HALF (47%, $122 million) of that investment. Without generous donors like you, the work necessary to bring the next generation of contraceptives to market simply would not be possible. |
|
Male Contraceptive Initiative’s strategy is to support the research community developing contraceptives for sperm-producers throughout every step of their professional development and careers as they work towards bringing the next generation of contraception to market. As a nonprofit, we rely solely on donations to achieve the impact needed to bring new male methods to market, and are extremely grateful for every dollar we receive.
Meet the male contraception champions that supported Male Contraceptive Initiative in 2021:
Meet the male contraception champions that supported Male Contraceptive Initiative in 2021:
|
Hall of Fame ($100,000 and up)
Anonymous
Core Supporters ($100 to $1,000)
|
VIPs ($1,000 to $100,000)
Contributors ($1 to $100)
|
"It’s vital that good contraceptive methods are available to men, and that men can take on that responsibility. That’s why Male Contraceptive Initiative is important. That’s why I give."
- MCI Donor
- MCI Donor
MCI Staff & Board
Male Contraceptive Initiative’s staff is composed of a dedicated group of individuals with varied and diverse expertise. We are committed to providing the support that the male contraceptive research community needs in order to bring new methods of male contraception to market, as well as the resources necessary to educate the general public and empower advocates to champion the cause of “Reproductive Autonomy for All”.
"Birth control is essential health care—full stop. And it’s health care that helps ensure everyone can control their own bodies, lives and futures. With reproductive rights under attack from every angle, we’ve got to stand up and make clear that no one should be able to come between a patient and the birth control they need—including being turned away at the pharmacy."
- Patty Murray, United States Senator
- Patty Murray, United States Senator
Contact
We would love to hear from you! We understand that our collective impact will always be far greater than our individual one. Please reach out to us and let's discuss how we can move the field of male contraception forward together.
811 Ninth Street, Suite 120 #255, Durham, NC 27705
+1 (984) 464-2951
[email protected]
811 Ninth Street, Suite 120 #255, Durham, NC 27705
+1 (984) 464-2951
[email protected]
