"Building Momentum"

Male Contraceptive Initiative’s 2022 Annual Report

A group of interconnected, differently sized gears, mostly clustered toward the top center against a black background, with the largest gear in the middle displaying intricate lines.

Introduction: Building Momentum

Succinctly articulating a year’s worth of proverbial blood, sweat, and tears is never an easy task, but it is one that we look forward to each year when developing our annual report. In a field as unique and vitally important as male contraception funding and advocacy, there is always something happening, and something to do in reaction to those occurrences. It can be challenging at times as MCI is a small team, so being able to take time to reflect on what we accomplished together over a 12-month period is a welcome reminder of the considerable privilege (and responsibility!) it is to champion this work.

During this period of introspection and reflection, the MCI staff looked to identify a throughline that captured the essence of the activities that defined 2022 and made it one of our most productive years to date. After evaluating our efforts, we arrived at “Building Momentum” as the theme for 2022.

Here are some of the ways that we championed building momentum in 2022:

Icon of a bar chart with five vertical bars of varying heights, and a magnifying glass overlaying the chart, highlighting the middle bar. The image suggests analysis or examination of data.

We invested in market research activities to help us, the research community, and the general public at large better understand the demand for male birth control methods.

A simple blue outline design showing a circle followed by three right-pointing chevrons in a row, all on a light gray background.

We launched our for-profit subsidiary Contraceptive Accelerator Network, a small mission-centric pharmaceutical company, with the specific intent of ensuring that promising non-hormonal, reversible contraceptive targets receive the support necessary to develop them as next generation male birth control methods.

Simple blue and white outline illustration of a trophy cup with two handles and a round base, representing achievement or victory.

We reinvented our travel grants program in order to expand the support we provide to young researchers, and rebranded it as our Trainee Success Program.

Simple line drawing of a graduation cap with a tassel above a rolled diploma, symbolizing academic achievement or graduation.

We launched our Campus Ambassador Program to empower students on campuses worldwide to be empowered advocates for male contraception and our mission of achieving “Reproductive Autonomy for All”.

A blue icon of a book with a gear symbol on its cover, representing a manual or technical guide.

We engaged with a cohort of students to develop a Digital Manual, which utilizes a mixed media, chapter-wise approach to make the field of male contraception more accessible.

Again, we had an incredibly productive and exciting 2022. Please review the following sections for granularity into the activities that helped define an unforgettable year spent building momentum together.

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“I don’t like the idea of getting someone pregnant. That’s scary. I always feel bad for the ladies that do get on birth control and struggle with some of them. It’s like, ‘Well, this is my fault as well.’”

– Cody, 32

Male Contraceptive Initiative's Executive Director Heather Vahdat's Annual Letter

Dear All,

MCI’s vision of “Reproductive Autonomy for All” is grounded in a commitment to equity, diversity, and inclusion. We believe that access to reproductive health care is a fundamental human right and that a key component of achieving reproductive autonomy is the promotion of male birth control methods (note: in this context we are using the word “male” to indicate people who produce sperm). For far too long, the burden of preventing pregnancy has fallen almost entirely on people who can become pregnant, leading to a disproportionate impact on their health, wellbeing, and opportunities. At the same time, this inequity has prevented half of the global population from having access to methods that would allow them to control their own reproductive intentions.

By promoting the development of safe, effective, and accessible male birth control methods, we hope to empower individuals and couples to make informed choices about their reproductive health and to reduce the gender disparities that exist in this domain. It is important to keep in mind that we are not seeking a one-size-fits-all solution. Rather, we strive to support the development of a broad range of methods that address the needs of individuals and couples as their reproductive plans change throughout the course of their lives.

As you will see in this annual report, our organization has made significant progress in advancing this mission over the past year. We have funded innovative research projects, advocated for systemic changes to prioritize reproductive health, and collaborated with other organizations to raise awareness and promote dialogue about the importance of male birth control. There is much more work to be done, and we remain committed to making more male contraceptive options a reality.

MCI and the field of non-hormonal male contraception would not be where it is today without you. We send our sincerest thanks for your continued support of our organization, and for your commitment to promoting health equity and social justice.

Warm regards,

A stylized blue handwritten signature on a light background.

Heather Vahdat, MPH
Executive Director

Infographic titled Reproductive Autonomy for All. It explains challenges in reproductive health for men and women, focusing on the need for accessible contraception and addressing mens lack of options and knowledge.

MCI’s Vision Statement

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“I think the impacts that developing a non-hormonal male contraceptive can have on the world are huge. I liken it to the development of the female birth control pill in the 1960s. I think the next frontier is male contraceptive development.”

– Dr. Jon Oatley, Washington State University

MCI's Organizational Overview

Male Contraceptive Initiative’s mission is to empower men to fully and equitably contribute to achieving family planning goals by providing the resources necessary to achieve reproductive autonomy for all genders. Currently, there are only two effective contraceptives for men on the market: condoms and vasectomy.

The typical use of condoms averages about 87% effective at preventing pregnancy, meaning around 13 people out of every 100 relying on condoms as their only birth control will experience or cause a pregnancy. Vasectomies are incredibly effective at pregnancy prevention (over 99%), but are intended to be permanent forms of sterilization and reversing one is not always possible, nor does it guarantee a return to fertility. The lack of male birth control options prevents men from meaningfully participating in family planning and puts an undue burden on women to bear the responsibility of using contraception in order to avoid an unintended pregnancy.

Male Contraceptive Initiative (MCI) was founded in 2014 in order to specifically address this lack of contraceptive options for men. We are a global hub for researchers, philanthropists, and advocates searching for new and innovative ways to advance the development of safe, non-hormonal, reversible contraceptives for men. We believe that doing so empowers all genders 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, and critically, the only way to achieve reproductive autonomy for anyone is by providing contraceptive resources to everyone.

Infographic comparing existing contraceptive methods for women and men. Women have multiple options across five categories; men have only condoms, withdrawal, and vasectomy. Website: www.malecontraceptive.org.

Existing Methods of Contraception

Our work is critical to improving family planning, and is divided into two interconnecting pillars of activities:

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Funding

We provide support to the research and development community developing non-hormonal, reversible contraceptives for men through investments, grants, professional development opportunities, and more.

FUNDING

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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.

ADVOCACY

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.

Infographic titled Theory of Change: Achieving Reproductive Autonomy with Male Contraception showing inputs, outputs, outcomes, and impacts, with icons representing funding, research, education, and societal and health benefits.

MCI’s Theory of Change

ABOUT US

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“I think I’d probably be more likely to take a non-hormonal one if it became available…
I know that the (female) birth control pill can have pretty gnarly side effects for people taking it. I’d want to avoid that if at all possible.”

– Joseph, 27

2022 Highlights

We strive to align all of our organizational activities with our guiding principles, all of which help to articulate how we intend to achieve our vision of Reproductive Autonomy for All. This ensures that everything we do is mission-aligned and that everyday is focused on moving all of us one step closer to the ideal reality where all genders have the resources they need to achieve their family planning goals.

In this section we share some of the best moments from our 2022 in the infographic below, and map each of these accomplishments to our organizational principles to illustrate this alignment with our vision and mission.

Infographic titled Male Contraceptive Initiative with sections on 2022 activities: research support, advocacy, team science, and market/user research, all aimed at advancing male contraception and promoting reproductive autonomy.

MCI’s 2022 Highlights

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“I do see this being as revolutionary as the iPhone. This could shift the dynamics of how reproductive autonomy sits for people….There needs to be a broad range of options, longer acting methods, pills, gels, injections, implants so men, just like women, have several options to choose from.”

– Dr. John Reynolds-Wright

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 2022 funding to advance the male contraception field:

Infographic showing a pie chart of $257M total contraceptive funding (2018-2020). 48% is public funds, 47% philanthropic, 5% pharmaceutical industry. Text in blue states 95% is from public & charitable sources. Categories are defined on the right.

Male Contraceptive Initiative’s 2022 Funding Activities

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“I definitely consider myself a feminist, but when first hearing about the side effects such as acne and mood swings, there was a small voice in my head saying ‘yeah, I really don’t want those. Why should I have to change my body?’. This was obviously then followed a second later with the thumping realization that’s how women have been forced into feeling for decades.”

– Thomas, 30

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 and Investment Partners that received support from Male Contraceptive Initiative in 2022:

A man with a bald head, beard, and glasses, wearing a white lab coat with a colorful tie, poses and smiles in front of a blurred background. The lab coat has a Baylor College of Medicine badge.

Dr. Thomas Garcia

MCI’s support allows Dr. Garcia to not only revive the Mammalian Reproductive Genetics Database (MRGD) – a long-served tool for the reproductive biology community, but also perform a genetic analysis of infertile men to demonstrate that specific contraceptive targets are associated with infertility.

DR. THOMAS GARCIA

A smiling older man with gray hair and glasses wearing a blue jacket stands outdoors near a body of water with boats and trees in the background.

Dr. Michael O’Rand

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.

DR. MICHAEL O'RAND

Two older men with glasses stand indoors, one wearing a blue polo shirt and the other a blue checked shirt. Bookshelves and a framed portrait are visible in the background.

Drs. Lonny Levin & Jochen Buck

MCI is supporting work that develops novel inhibitors of sAC as on-demand male contraceptives as well as translational research that assesses the pharmacodynamics of inhibitors on human sperm. These steps are crucial to understanding how the drug stays associated to sperm after ejaculation and its potential contraceptive efficacy.

DRS. LONNY LEVIN & JOCHEN BUCK

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Dr. Jean-Ju Chung

MCI is supporting Dr. Chung’s work in developing a screening platform that allows the identification of small molecule inhibitors of CatSper. One of the most elusive contraceptive targets, the complexity of CatSper has been a limiting factor in developing contraceptives that target the protein.

DR. JEAN-JU CHUNG

A person with short brown hair, wearing red glasses, a gray sweater with a textured collar, and a pink shirt, is smiling in front of a plain light-colored background.

Dr. Nadia Mannowetz

MCI is supporting YourChoice Therapeutic’s work in developing a reversible male contraceptive that prevents the production of new sperm. MCI’s grant will facilitate work that progresses a drug candidate towards first-in-human studies and eventual FDA approval.

DR. NADIA MANNOWETZ

OUR GRANTEES

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 2022:

A woman with straight, dark hair and medium skin tone smiles at the camera. She is wearing a light blue knit sweater and is set against a gray, studio-style background.

Natalia del Rosario Rivera Sánchez

Natalia is a PhD candidate in the lab of Dr. Levin and Dr. Buck at Weill Cornell Medicine in New York City. She focuses her research on soluble adenylyl cyclase (sAC), a protein that is necessary for sperm motility and sperm’s ability to fertilize the oocyte. Natalia is investigating the toxicology and side effect profile of a series of sAC inhibitors. The Levin/Buck laboratory is focused on developing a contraceptive product, so MCI’s support enables Natalia to learn more about translational sciences and drug development.

A man with short curly hair and glasses, wearing a light blue button-up shirt, stands against a white background, smiling slightly.

Martin Pedersen

Martin is a postdoctoral researcher at the University of Copenhagen, Department of Chemistry and the Department of Growth and Reproduction (GR), Rigshospitalet, Denmark. He works in collaboration with Anders Rehfeld at GR, who has recently shown that a known pharmaceutical has a direct inhibitory effect on the Cationic channel of Sperm (CatSper). Martin is performing a structure-activity-relation study using the pharmaceutical as a lead molecule to elucidate a pharmacophore model for the activity on CatSper in human sperm cells.

OUR FELLOWS

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“In school we were taught about safe sex and birth control is a part of that, it is unfair to prevent something that could impact people’s lives.”

– Anna, 18

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 women to manage family planning goals.

At MCI, we view our advocacy efforts through a multi-tiered approach to help people understand the importance, and potential impact, of the next generation of non-hormonal, reversible methods of sperm-targeting contraception. These tiers are interconnected, and we seek out opportunities to develop resources that support these tiers individually and collectively. It is critical that we view all of our outreach efforts through this lens in order to ensure we stay mission-aligned while also ensuring that the content we develop is as impactful as possible.

MCI’s Outreach & Advocacy Strategy

By providing educational and promotional 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 men.

In 2022, this manifested in multiple ways, including:

Expanding our library of educational primers and animated shorts to make the science of male reproductive biology and contraceptives for all genders more accessible.
Developing a robust collection of infographics to meet the needs of those seeking visual support for their work or interest in the field.
Engaging with a cohort of students to develop a Digital Manual that utilizes a mixed media, chapter-wise approach to make the field of male contraception more accessible.
Launching our Campus Ambassador Program (CAP) to mobilize and empower student supporters to help us advocate for additional forms of non-hormonal, reversible male contraceptives and champion the cause of “Reproductive Autonomy for All”.

ADVOCACY

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“I think the development is welcome because there are now more options for men and women to choose from. Conception, or the prevention of it, is a shared responsibility between partners, so it’s always good if both genders have options.”

– William, 28

Donor Highlight

Contraception research and development in general is an underfunded, yet critical component of helping people achieve their family planning objectives. For sperm-producers/men this area of scientific enquiry, one that has incredible potential to address many pressing challenges affecting the world today, is even more neglected.

Nonprofits like MCI play an extremely critical role in ensuring research and development activities receive the support they need to continue. Consider this: Male Contraceptive Initiative is the sixth largest funder of contraception research and development for all genders, and we invest under $2 million dollars in the field annually. The field of male contraception research and development needs a significant increase in funding support, but until then, it is through the generosity of our donors that this critically important work continues.

Our strategy is to support the research community developing contraceptives for sperm-producers/m 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 advocates that supported Male Contraceptive Initiative in 2022:

Hall of Fame ($100,000 and up)

Anonymous

VIPs ($1,000 to $100,000)

Jonathan and Xixi Shakes
Parsemus Foundation
Inge-Arne Teigset
Brian Underwood
Gunda Georg
Margaret Battin
Nathan La Porte & Leah Handel

Core Supporters ($100 to $1,000)

Brodie Stephens
Anonymous
Anonymous
Anonymous
Chris Greenley
Darrell Budic
Ian Flower
David Sokal
Anonymous
Gene and Shirley Mills
Edward Hong
Karen Blyth
Rob Savey
Scott Butters
Uyen Tran
Anonymous
Kirstin Davis
Kate Arthur
Peter Black
Tobias Mohr
Anonymous
Dream Gunther
Anonymous
Robin Deibel
Anonymous
Karen Lew
Colin Dean

Contributors ($1 to $100)

Aron Roberts
Louis Burke
Will Grandbois
Kristy Clark
Gail Tosto
Anonymous
Anonymous
Nancy Wallace
Richard Brady
Anonymous
Linda Brent
Anonymous
Heather Vahdat
Shad Sterling
Kyla Carlston
John Zybko
John Crawford
Anonymous
Anonymous
Anonymous

DONATE

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“I think the development is welcome because there are now more options for men and women to choose from. Conception, or the prevention of it, is a shared responsibility between partners, so it’s always good if both genders have options.”

– William, 28

MCI's 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”.

MEET THE TEAM

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“I’m for both parties taking their respective pills simultaneously. Parenthood is an important step in anyone’s life. Since I’m not there yet, I want to be sure. One can never be too careful. It’s also a matter of personal responsibility. If I absolutely want to avoid getting my partner pregnant, I’d even use a condom on top of taking the pill.”

- Lucas, 19

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
contact@malecontraceptive.org

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