Molecular Transducers of Physical Activity Consortium

Summary

The goal of the Molecular Transducers of Physical Activity Consortium (MoTrPAC) is to assess molecular changes that occur in response to physical activity (PA). To achieve this aim, a mechanistic randomized controlled trial (RCT) is conducted, in which adult study participants are randomized to endurance exercise (EE) training, resistance exercise (RE) training, or no exercise Control for a period of approximately 12 weeks. The overarching hypothesis is that there are discoverable molecular transducers that communicate and coordinate the effects of exercise on cells, tissues, and organs, which may initiate processes ultimately leading to the health benefits of exercise. Because this is a mechanistic trial, the main goal is not a single health-related outcome. Rather, the goal is to generate a resource leading to the generation of a map of the molecular responses to exercise that will be used by the Consortium and by the scientific community at large to generate hypotheses for future investigations of the health benefits of PA.

Conditions

• Physical Activity

Interventions

OTHER

EE Training

Participants randomized to EE engage in four center-based EE sessions each week for 12 weeks; each session lasting roughly 1-hour with a 40-45 minute stimulus phase and the remaining time being used to warm up and cool down. Each week, two of the sessions occur on a cycle ergometer and two involve treadmill exercise (4 total sessions per week). During all sessions, the participant's heart rate is monitored to ensure they maintain exercise intensity at 70% of heart rate reserve (± 5%). Periodically during training sessions perceptual data from participants are recorded, which is used to track the subjective experience of participants and in interpreting adherence data.

OTHER

RE Training

Participants randomized to RE engage in four center-based RE sessions each week for 12 weeks; each session lasting roughly 1-hour with a 40-45 minute stimulus phase and the remaining time being used to warm up and cool down. The prescription is a 2-day split, meaning approximately half of the major muscle groups are exercised each session and each muscle group is exercised twice per week. Two sessions per week include seven exercises that focus on the hips/thighs, back and biceps, and the other two sessions per week include seven exercises that focus on the chest, shoulders, triceps, calves and abdominal muscles. The first set per muscle group is a warm-up performed at 50-70% of prescribed loads that are based on 10-repetition maximum (10RM). Three sets per exercise are then performed at 10RM intensity. Load increases when a participant can perform 12 repetitions for 2 of 3 sets of an exercise. During all sessions, heart rate is monitored and perceived exertion is recorded.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK)

  collaborator NIH

• Stanford University

  collaborator OTHER

• Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard

  collaborator OTHER

• Duke University

  collaborator OTHER

• Emory University

  collaborator OTHER

• Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai

  collaborator OTHER

• Pacific Northwest National Laboratory

  collaborator FED

• University of Michigan

  collaborator OTHER

• Wake Forest University

  collaborator OTHER

• University of Vermont

  collaborator OTHER

• National Institutes of Health (NIH)

  collaborator NIH

• National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases (NIAMS)

  collaborator NIH

• Mayo Clinic

  collaborator OTHER

• Wake Forest University Health Sciences

  lead OTHER

Principal Investigators

• Mike E Miller, PhD · Wake Forest University Health Sciences

Study Design

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

OTHER

Masking

NONE

Model

PARALLEL

Eligibility

Min Age

18 Years

Sex

ALL

Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Timeline & Regulatory

Start

2019-08-28

Primary Completion

2025-05-31

Completion

2025-05-31

Countries

• United States

Study Locations