# MoTrPAC CPET Core Lab

> **NIH NIH U01** · DUKE UNIVERSITY · 2024 · $99,897

## Abstract

MoTrPAC Project Summary
The Molecular Transducers of Physical Activity Consortium (MoTrPAC) is designed to discover and
characterize the range of molecular transducers underlying the effects of exercise in humans. MoTrPAC
was launched in 2016 with six adult clinical centers and a pediatric center that have collaborated to
generate extensive Manual of Operations to guide research protocols involving all aspects of the clinical
operations (Phase I). Phase II began in the fall of 2019 with all human clinical centers showing excellent
progress towards initial recruitment goals and implementation of the protocol. The initial goal set forth by
NIH was to recruit 270 children (10-17 years of age) and 1980 sedentary adults (age 18 years or greater)
randomized to endurance training (170 youth, 840 adults), resistance training (840 adults), or non-exercise
controls (50 youth, 300 adults). An additional group of highly active endurance (50 youth, 150 adults) and
resistance (150 adults) trained individuals serve as comparators, not participating in the MoTrPAC exercise
training programs. The recruitment and enrollment approach are sex-balanced, with participants across a
wide range of ages (10-17, 18-39, 40-59 and >60-year age groups) and of different races. Due to the
COVID-19 pandemic, beginning in March 2020, MoTrPAC activities were suspended for over a year with
continued constraints through 2022. Despite the numerous challenges encountered as a result of the
pandemic, the human clinical centers have successfully enrolled ~80% (adult) and 95% (pediatric) of the
highly active cohort, ~93% of cross-sectional (pediatric), and ~60% (adult) and ~50% (pediatric) of the
current target enrollment numbers in the randomized control trial portion of the study. This led to the NIH
Common Fund to release the current NOFO (RFA-RM-23-010) to provide MoTrPAC with funding to
complete recruitment and follow-up for the clinical studies, including finishing mechanistic randomized
controlled trials of sedentary adults and children, and observational studies of highly active adults and
children. This will enrich the participant cohorts that are critical to the understanding of exercise adaptations
and heterogeneity across age, gender, and minority groups. Altogether, this extension will allow MoTrPAC
to complete the intended goals as originally envisioned, will provide a more complete public database of
the health benefits of exercise, and will provide insight into how physical activity mitigates disease risk.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 11143477
- **Project number:** 3U01AR071128-08S1
- **Recipient organization:** DUKE UNIVERSITY
- **Principal Investigator:** Joseph A Houmard
- **Activity code:** U01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2024
- **Award amount:** $99,897
- **Award type:** 3
- **Project period:** 2016-12-06 → 2026-08-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/11143477

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 11143477, MoTrPAC CPET Core Lab (3U01AR071128-08S1). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-23 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/11143477. Licensed CC0.

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