Mapping the Future of Exercise Biology

y goal for this column is always to discuss the latest relevant science on endurance sport, providing both practical takeaways and a peek inside the science of endurance. However, this time I’m going to pivot a little. At the American College of Sports Medicine conference this year, I learned about the first results in a huge research project aimed at uncovering the complexities of exercise in the most comprehensive and thorough manner ever. The project, named MoTrPAC (Molecular Transducers of Physical Activity Consortium), is a $200 million study funded by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) common fund and some additional partners, with the goal to thoroughly characterize all the health benefits of exercise and relate them to changes taking place in our DNA, cells and blood. When complete, it will deliver the most comprehensive