# Animal Studies Investigating Molecular Transducers of Physical Activity

> **NIH NIH U01** · JOSLIN DIABETES CENTER · 2020 · $486,227

## Abstract

PROJECT ABSTRACT
It is well established that regular physical activity, including endurance (aerobic) exercise training and
resistance exercise training has important effects on the prevention and treatment of numerous chronic
diseases. Determining the molecular mechanisms or “map” of the exercise response has become an
important focus of biomedical research. The Molecular Transducers of Physical Exercise in Humans
Consortium (MoTrPAC) will define the molecular footprint that underlies the enormously beneficial effects of
exercise in humans. This application is for a Preclinical Animal Study Site (PASS). This Investigative team
has the potential to play an important role in the design and execution of the MoTrPAC project based on our
extensive experience and strong record of collaboration. The aims of Phase 1 are: 1) To provide outstanding
intellectual contributions and advice, and work in a highly cooperative and collegial manner with the other
members of the Steering Committee, to design the best possible experiments for the PASS studies. 2.) To use
the wide variety of expertise in the laboratory to carry out highly controlled and accurate exercise studies and
collection of animal tissue and blood samples. For this Phase, the rat has been identified as the animal model
that most closely mimics humans and the most feasible to study. An emerging concept in exercise biology is
that physical exercise activates tissue-to-tissue communication throughout the organism, and this tissue cross-
talk can mediate some of the beneficial effects of exercise on health. The goal of Phase 2 is to carry out
mechanistic studies to investigate newly and Consortium-identified circulating molecules involved in exercise-
regulated tissue cross-talk, including identification of the function and source of the molecules. Skeletal
muscle-derived myokines and adipose tissue-derived adipokines will be studied. The Specific Aims of Phase 2
of this project are: 1) To identify novel exercise-regulated adipokines and myokines based on data generated
by MoTrPAC; 2) To determine the physiological targets and functions of candidate myokines and adipokines;
3) To determine if exercise-regulated myokines and adipokines can have beneficial effects on metabolic health
in normal and metabolically compromised animals; and 4) To determine if putative exercise-induced myokines
and adipokines are secreted from skeletal muscle and adipose tissue. These highly innovative studies will
dramatically increase our understanding of the mechanisms by which physical activity improves human health
and may provide the basis for future therapeutics to combat many chronic diseases.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 9821172
- **Project number:** 5U01AG055135-04
- **Recipient organization:** JOSLIN DIABETES CENTER
- **Principal Investigator:** LAURIE J GOODYEAR
- **Activity code:** U01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $486,227
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2016-12-15 → 2022-11-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/9821172

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 9821172, Animal Studies Investigating Molecular Transducers of Physical Activity (5U01AG055135-04). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-22 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/9821172. Licensed CC0.

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