# Pennington MoTrPAC Adults

> **NIH NIH U01** · LSU PENNINGTON BIOMEDICAL RESEARCH CTR · 2020 · $2,500,000

## Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY
ABSTRACT
A considerable body of evidence shows that exercise training induces multiple beneficial changes in
cardiometabolic risk factors and that physically active individuals have lower mortality and morbidity rates than
their sedentary counterparts. However, there are marked inter-individual differences in the responsiveness to
regular physical activity with some individuals showing great benefits while others do not. While the response
heterogeneity is clearly genetically determined, little is known about the molecular pathways and mechanisms
that contribute to the adaptation to acute exercise and exercise training. The goal of the Molecular Transducers
of Physical Activity Consortium (MoTrPAC) is to “understand the molecular changes that occur in response to
physical activity”. We therefore propose to conduct a randomized clinical trial in which we will collect biological
samples (blood, skeletal muscle and adipose tissue) before and after a 12-week aerobic or resistance training
program in healthy, sedentary individuals. In addition, we will collect samples before, during and after a single
bout of exercise at baseline and after training. We will also collect biosamples in highly trained athletes
involved in endurance or strength sports. The overarching goal of the program is to contribute to the
development of a molecular map of transducers that underlie the effects of physical activity.
To achieve this goal, investigators at the Pennington Biomedical Research Center propose to:
1) Enroll and randomize 518 healthy, but sedentary volunteers (50% Caucasians, 47.5% African
Americans, 2.5% others; aged 21-75 y; BMI 20-40 kg/m2) in a 3/3/1 scheme to a 12-week intervention trial
comprised of two exercise groups, aerobic (AER) and resistance (RES) training, and a control group (CON).
The goal is to have 178 completers in each training group and 60 in the CON group (20% attrition).
2) Recruit and enroll 50 athletes (ATH) competing in endurance (n=25) and strength (n=25) sports to serve
as an active control group. The ATH group will undergo baseline testing and an acute bout of exercise
consistent with their normal training regimen with similar pre- and post-acute exercise samples collection.
The AER program will start at 3 days per week of treadmill walking/running progressing to 4 days per week by
week 2 with an initial moderate intensity (heart rate associated with 50% VO2peak), then increasing to a more
vigorous intensity (HR 75% VO2peak) by week 6. The RES program will be performed 3 days per week and
consist of 9 exercises on Universal Gym Equipment, including four upper body lifts, three lower body lifts,
abdominal crunch, and back extensions. The RES program will progress from 2 sets of 10-20 repetitions to 3
sets of 8-10 repetitions after week 2. All AER and RES exercise sessions will be conducted under strict
supervision by trained staff. Because of the expertise in training studies and translational research as well as
th...

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 9849189
- **Project number:** 5U01AR071160-04
- **Recipient organization:** LSU PENNINGTON BIOMEDICAL RESEARCH CTR
- **Principal Investigator:** Tuomo Rankinen
- **Activity code:** U01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $2,500,000
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2016-12-06 → 2022-11-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/9849189

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 9849189, Pennington MoTrPAC Adults (5U01AR071160-04). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-22 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/9849189. Licensed CC0.

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