UVM scientists decode exercise’s molecular impact

BURLNGTON, Vt.—For the past eight years, researchers have been conducting a groundbreaking study supported by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) Common Fund: The Molecular Transducers of Physical Activity Consortium (MoTrPAC). With nearly 2,600 volunteers, the study aims to examine the molecular effects of exercise on healthy adults and children, considering factors like age, race, and gender. The goal is to create comprehensive molecular maps of these changes and uncover why physical activity has significant health benefits.

“This is an unprecedented large-scale effort to begin to explore—in extreme detail—the biochemical, physiological and clinical impact of exercise,” said Russell Tracy, PhD., a University of Vermont Distinguished Professor of pathology and laboratory science. “I’m pleased and honored that our lab at UVM was chosen to be the MoTrPAC Biorepository, and anticipate that the MoTrPAC ‘maps,’ when coupled with the carefully collected biosamples, will prove enormously useful over the next decade or more of related studies.”

In a series of papers published in Nature, MoTrPAC researchers laid out their preliminary findings. Scientists discovered unique molecular responses to endurance exercise in different tissues, with mitochondria exhibiting varied changes across the body. Notably, adrenal glands showed significant alterations in nearly half of mitochondria-associated genes following endurance training, a previously unexplored aspect. Gender differences were observed in molecular responses across various tissues, particularly in white fat tissue, suggesting implications for personalized exercise recommendations, especially in conditions like obesity. These findings underscore the importance of including both sexes in exercise research to comprehensively understand its health effects.

Twenty-two grants– totaling approximately $226 million in Common Fund support– have bolstered the work of researchers across the country—including Tracy and Jessica Rooney, M.P.H., and other members of the Larner College of Medicine team at the University of Vermont. The study involves various exercise regimens and collects biospecimens before, during, and after exercise. Recipients of the grant worked as a consortium to develop plans for recruitment into the clinical trial portion of MoTrPAC, identification of methods to analyze tissue samples, and selection of animal models to best replicate human studies. Animal models allowed researchers to search for changes in tissues not easily accessible in human patients, such as the brain, lungs, and kidneys. Lessons learned from initial phases in animals were then used to optimize protocols for full-scale recruitment. The ultimate aim is to personalize exercise recommendations based on individual needs and traits, potentially leading to significant advancements in health and treatment approaches.

The MoTrPAC network is a robust one—The Consortium Coordinating Center (CCC), comprising the Administrative Coordinating Core (ACC), Biospecimens Repository Core (BRC), Exercise Intervention Core (EIC), and Data Management, Analysis, and Quality Control (DMAQC) Core, provide essential support to the dozens of teams involved in this project. Led by four principal investigators, the CCC collaborates with Clinical Sites, Preclinical Animal Study Sites, Bioinformatics Center, Chemical Analysis Sites, and various committees. The CCC employs strategies for integration, safety monitoring, and effective communication. Wake Forest University School of Medicine serves as the hub, with the DMAQC Core managing many of the project’s aspects. The CCC emphasizes rigorous research practices, real-time tracking, and extensive experience in coordinating large clinical trials. Its goals include fostering team science, ensuring research transparency, managing biological samples, coordinating preclinical studies, resource sharing, publishing results, and implementing analytical best practices.

Tracy is a key figure in MoTrPAC as one of the 4 principal investigators of the CCC, which secured $10 million in support. His specific role involves vice-chairing the MoTrPAC Steering Committee (SC) and leading the Biospecimens Repository Core (BRC). This core is responsible for collecting, storing and managing biological samples from participants and animals involved in the study all of which must be done under cryopreservation conditions. The biospecimens, which include blood, fat and muscle tissues in humans, are crucial for the molecular analyses that aim to understand the changes occurring in the body due to exercise. His group then distributed these biological specimens to the MoTrPAC investigators, as well as other investigators who wish to conduct studies related to this large-scale exploration of the effects of exercise. Tracy’s leadership in the BRC indicates his crucial role in designing and implementing the protocols for biospecimen collection and ensuring the quality and integrity of these samples throughout the study.

With additional findings from the MoTrPAC study being released throughout the coming year, Tracy and his colleagues are poised to reshape our understanding of exercise’s molecular basis and impact on human health.

Grant Award Number: U24AR071113

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About the NIH Common Fund
The NIH Common Fund encourages collaboration and supports a series of exceptionally high-impact, trans-NIH programs. Common Fund programs are designed to pursue major opportunities and gaps in biomedical research that no single NIH institute could tackle alone, but that the agency as a whole can address to make the biggest impact possible on the progress of medical research. Additional information about the NIH Common Fund can be found at http://commonfund.nih.gov.

About the National Institutes of Health (NIH)
NIH, the nation’s medical research agency, includes 27 Institutes and Centers and is a component of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. NIH is the primary federal agency conducting and supporting basic, clinical, and translational medical research, and is investigating the causes, treatments, and cures for both common and rare diseases. For more information about the NIH and its programs, visit http://www.nih.gov.

About the Larner College of Medicine at the University of Vermont

Founded in 1822, the Robert Larner, M.D., College of Medicine at the University of Vermont is dedicated to developing exceptional physicians and scientists by offering innovative curriculum designs, state-of-the-art research facilities, and clinical partnerships with leading health care institutions. The college’s commitment to excellence has earned national recognition, attracting talented students, trainees, physicians, and researchers from across the country. With a focus on diversity, equity, and inclusion, the Larner College of Medicine prides itself on cultivating an environment that uplifts and supports its faculty and student populations while advancing medical education, research, and patient care in Vermont and beyond.

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