Our Grantees

A close-up of a laboratory test tube rack holding several test tubes filled with blue liquid, surrounded by other glassware containing similar blue solutions.

A person with short dark hair, wearing a teal jacket, smiles while standing outdoors in front of green foliage and vibrant red flowers.

Laura Hertel Founder & CEO

$63,000 – Awarded January 2024

Oakland, CA

About

Nuapoch, Inc. is a start-up company seeking to develop non-hormonal, effective, and reversible contraceptives by targeting sperm maturation factors. The company was founded in January 2024 by Dr. Laura Hertel and is headquartered in Oakland, California.

Our Grant

MCI is supporting Nuapoch’s efforts to determine the three-dimensional structure and key functional domains of an epididymal protein involved in sperm maturation, to enable its targeting with new contraceptive drugs.

Nuapoch, Inc.: Targeting a Novel Epididymal Protein for Non-Hormonal Male Contraception

Meet MCI's Grantees & Fellows!

Our grantees and fellows represent some of the finest minds in the male contraception research community from around the world.

At Male Contraceptive Initiative, we prioritize funding research that aligns with our mission of driving male contraception closer to clinical trials. We strategically allocate our resources to support a diverse range of projects, focusing on non-hormonal and reversible methods that have the potential to meet the needs of a broader population. Our goal is to catalyze progress in this field and bring innovative male birth control options to market.

Discover the innovative research being conducted by our grantees and fellows by clicking on the buttons below:

MCI'S GRANTEES

MCI'S FELLOWS

Looking for Something?

Welcome to your comprehensive resource on the future of male contraception! We have packed this site with vital information, and to help you find exactly what you need, we’ve created a detailed guide. Please use the Table of Contents on our homepage to easily navigate to the research, news, or resources that interest you most. This will ensure you can explore all of our important content with ease. You can access the Table of Contents by clicking on the button below:

TABLE OF CONTENTS