Cancer cells may hijack a fertility protein to repair damaged DNA and survive chemotherapy, research suggests.

The findings could point to a way of making existing cancer treatments more effective.

SYCP1 is a protein normally involved in producing sperm and eggs.

Researchers at the University of Liverpool found that the protein, previously thought to work only in reproduction, can be reactivated in cancer cells, where it helps tumours survive and grow.

SYCP1 usually helps chromosomes pair during meiosis, the form of cell division that produces reproductive cells.

In cancer cells, however, the protein appears to take on another role. It enters the nucleus, the cell’s control centre, binds directly to DNA and regulates genes involved in cell division and DNA repair.

DNA repair is how cells fix damage to their genetic code. In cancer, this process can help tumour cells survive treatment.

The researchers found that removing SYCP1 made cancer cells much more sensitive to chemotherapy drugs that damage DNA.

The findings suggest cancers may use SYCP1 to repair damage caused by treatment and continue growing.

Dr Urszula McClurg, lecturer in biochemistry, cell and systems biology at the University of Liverpool, said: “Our findings show that cancer cells can hijack proteins that normally exist only in reproductive tissues and give them completely new jobs.

“Understanding these unexpected functions opens up exciting opportunities to develop new treatments that make existing cancer therapies more effective.”

The work challenges the long-held belief that proteins active only in fertility have no biological relevance outside the reproductive system.

Researchers say these specialised proteins could provide new treatment targets across many types of cancer.

The study also offers a new view of how cancers evolve by repurposing developmental and reproductive processes.

The findings highlight SYCP1 as a candidate for future precision cancer therapies, which are treatments based on the specific biology of a patient’s cancer.

Propel Healthtech West Yorkshire has opened applications for its final 2026 healthtech cohort, offering innovators support to scale solutions for the NHS and wider healthcare system.

The accelerator is inviting healthtech innovators with ambitious solutions to join its last cohort of the year.

Propel Healthtech West Yorkshire supports small and medium-sized businesses at start-up and scale-up stages as they develop, progress and scale healthcare innovations.

The fully funded programme is delivered by Health Innovation Yorkshire & Humber in partnership with West Yorkshire Combined Authority.

It provides tailored business support, NHS engagement and access to a nationally recognised innovation network.

Successful applicants will join a six-month programme designed to accelerate commercial growth and NHS adoption.

Support includes business development, regulatory guidance, one-to-one mentoring, masterclasses and direct access to NHS organisations, investors and industry partners.

Regulatory guidance helps companies understand the rules they must follow before healthcare products can be safely adopted.

Dr Neville Young, director of enterprise and innovation at Health Innovation Yorkshire & Humber, said: “It’s always incredibly exciting to open another round of applications for Propel.

“So far, we’ve seen outstanding examples of how this collaborative, innovation-led programme supports companies to start, scale and embed their products and solutions within our local healthcare system.

“As we launch our final cohort of 2026, we’re looking forward to welcoming another group of ambitious innovators who share our vision of improving health and care through innovation.

“The value we can offer participating SMEs continues to grow year on year, and we’re proud to deliver Propel Healthtech West Yorkshire alongside partners who help shape a programme that is truly world-leading in its ambition, quality and impact.”

The programme launched in November 2025 following £4.5m through the West Yorkshire Mayor’s Investment Zone, part of a wider £160m Investment Zone.

It aims to accelerate innovation, attract investment and strengthen the region’s health and life sciences sector.

Over four years, the programme plans to support hundreds of innovators, helping businesses grow in West Yorkshire while developing technologies intended to improve patient care, tackle healthcare challenges and create high-value jobs across the region.

The programme is delivered with a network of regional, national and international partners, giving innovators access to expertise, markets and organisations familiar with developing and scaling healthcare innovations.

Applications are open to early-stage innovators and organisations that can show evidence of NHS traction.

Applicants must already have a presence in West Yorkshire or be willing to establish one.

Each successful organisation will receive support tailored to its stage of development and growth ambitions, reflecting its individual commercial and clinical priorities.

Applications opened at 9am on Monday 20 July and close at 4pm on Friday 25 September.

Successful innovators are due to be notified on Friday 2 October, ahead of the cohort launch event on Thursday 15 October.

Programme offboarding is scheduled for March 2027.

Tim East, workstream lead for start-ups at Propel Healthtech West Yorkshire, said: “Every cohort brings together founders tackling some of healthcare’s biggest challenges with innovative ideas, technologies and solutions. What makes Propel unique is the breadth of expertise available to innovators, from NHS partners and academics to investors, experienced founders and international organisations.

“Whether you’re at the beginning of your commercial journey or preparing to scale, Propel is designed to give innovators the knowledge, connections and confidence needed to successfully navigate the healthcare system and accelerate growth.”

Tracy Brabin, mayor of West Yorkshire, spoke in November 2025 during the launch of the £4.5m investment as part of the Local Growth Plan.

She said: “The first priority of our Local Growth Plan is to boost our region’s fastest growing business sectors, because we know that’s how we’re going to drive investment, create jobs and put more money in people’s pockets.”

She added: “This will help with access to finance, skills and workspace to bolster collaboration with hospitals and universities, boosting growth and helping us build a stronger, brighter West Yorkshire.”

Propel Healthtech West Yorkshire says it is committed to building an inclusive innovation ecosystem and is encouraging applications from underrepresented founders, including female founders, innovators from Black, Asian and minority ethnic communities and entrepreneurs with disabilities.

Women in disadvantaged areas may face poorer heart health and faster decline as they approach menopause, new research suggests.

Researchers followed 1,200 women in eastern Massachusetts for more than 20 years, from pregnancy into midlife.

The study measured heart health at five points using a score based on eight health and lifestyle factors, including blood pressure, cholesterol, sleep, diet and physical activity.

Women living in the most socially vulnerable neighbourhoods scored about six to 10 points lower on heart health across more than two decades of follow-up than those in the least disadvantaged neighbourhoods.

The differences were already clear three years after enrolment and continued into midlife.

Researchers also found that women in these neighbourhoods had faster declines before menopause, the stage when periods stop and cardiovascular risk can rise. Cardiovascular health means the health of the heart and blood vessels.

Socioeconomic factors also appeared to shape outcomes. Women with lower income, less education, or who identified as non-Hispanic Black had lower heart health scores throughout the study.

The findings highlight how long-term exposure to social and environmental conditions may affect cardiovascular risk over time.

Even modest differences in heart health scores may matter, as previous research has linked small decreases in these scores with higher risks of cardiovascular disease and death.

Senior author Izzuddin Aris, associate professor at Harvard Medical School and the Harvard Pilgrim Health Care Institute, said: “Our study shows that heart health in midlife is shaped by more than personal choices. Income, education, and neighbourhood conditions may all play a role.”

Neighbourhood conditions continued to affect heart health even after researchers took income and education into account.

Women who lived for years in highly vulnerable neighbourhoods had persistently lower scores and poorer cardiovascular health trajectories.

Aris added: “The years before and around menopause may be an important time to support women’s heart health.

“This is especially true for women living in under-resourced neighbourhoods.”

The findings suggest prevention efforts could include better access to healthy food, safe places to be active and quality healthcare, particularly for women seeking to protect their heart health over time.

The study used data from Project Viva, a long-term research study that has followed women since pregnancy in the early 2000s through midlife.

Researchers collected repeated health data over more than two decades, allowing them to track long-term patterns in heart health.