MoTrPAc Phase 2 Animal Studies (U01 Clinical Trial Not Allowed)

The purpose of this FOA is to invite additional applications for the Preclinical Animal Study Sites (PASS) as part of the Molecular Transducers of Physical Activity in Humans Consortium (MoTrPAC) (http://commonfund.nih.gov/MolecularTransducers). Awards made through this FOA will support preclinical mechanistic studies on a range of molecular compounds identified in the initial PASS exercise protocol (RM 15-013) which was designed to complement and substantially expand the data from the human clinical study. This FOA is expected to support up to 4-6 additional PASS as part of the MoTrPAC consortium. Phase 2 of the original PASS study sites will design and conduct detailed mechanistic studies to identify the sources, signaling pathways, physiological targets, and functions of mobilized and identified molecular transducers of physical activity; to recognize feedback and interaction effects among different pathways and tissues; and to discover specific roles of the molecules associated with specific health benefits. This RFA calls for additional proposals to explore the mechanistic links between the candidate molecular transducers of physical activity and functional effects of exercise in tissues. Overall, data from the PASS studies are anticipated to substantially increase our understanding of how different tissues and organs adapt to the exercise induced changes. The PASS will serve to confirm human data and extend the analyses of candidate transducers of physical activity from the clinical study across multiple organs and tissues that are not accessible from human participants. Applicants should propose what they think is the best strategy and approach for investigating how these mobilized compounds synergize to coordinate the overall homeostatic response to exercise. Final decisions on the actual compounds for future screening will be determined in consultation with the MoTrPAC Steering Committee.