Want to get healthier in 2022?

For Baton Rouge resident Danielle Voss, participating in the MoTrPAC study currently underway at Pennington Biomedical Research Center has not only helped her feel better physically, but also inspired her to return to a regular fitness routine after seven years away from the gym. Voss, a mom of two, used to lead a pretty active lifestyle, but struggled to find the time and the motivation to get to the gym regularly after the birth of her second child. “I was not currently on any sort of exercise regimen, and I knew I needed to be,” says the 47-year-old. “So I figured, why not sign up for this study? You know, make a little bit of money and get paid to exercise.” 

Currently, Voss arrives at Pennington’s on-campus fitness center for an hour-long strength training program three times a week, where she receives one-on-one instruction for the duration of her session. After just one month of attending the workout sessions, she’s noticing a significant change in her body. “I feel so much stronger,” she says. “I've got so much more energy!” 

With the onset of 2022 comes a fresh start and a new opportunity to make those New Year’s resolutions stick. Find yourself wanting to emulate Danielle’s journey to a healthier, more active lifestyle? Pennington Biomedical Research Center is currently seeking research participants for its ongoing MoTrPAC study, which aims to investigate the impact of physical activity on the body by studying how regular exercise can improve health at the cellular level. 

What does Pennington do?

Pennington Biomedical Research Center works at the cutting edge of medical research as it relates to understanding the root causes of obesity, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, cancer, and dementia. Housed within a state-of-the-art, 222-acre campus in the heart of Baton Rouge, the center is affiliated with Louisiana State University. Its research enterprise employs over 450 staff, who work across a network of 40 clinics and research laboratories, as well as 13 specialized core service facilities..

What is MoTrPAC?

Molecular Transducers of Physical Activity Consortium (MoTrPAC) is a nationwide research study spearheaded by the National Institutes of Health, which aims to improve our understanding of how physical activity creates changes in the body on a molecular level. The goal of the study is to help researchers and doctors better understand what type of exercise regimen is best-suited to each person’s individual body type.

What does participation entail?

Participants are invited to visit the Pennington Biomedical outpatient clinic for an orientation to learn more about the MoTrPAC study. Those interested in joining the study then attend a screening visit to determine whether they are eligible. Once enrolled, participants will be randomly assigned to a 12-week regimen of either resistance or endurance training, each consisting of three exercise sessions per week. The total duration of the study is six months.

Why enroll?

If you’re looking to be more active but struggle with implementing, or maintaining a regular fitness routine, the MoTrPAC study is a great way to hold yourself accountable. Even better, study participants will be compensated with a $1500 payment upon completion of the program. 

And for many participants, the MoTrPAC study does succeed in making the exercise habit stick. “It's been seven years and you know, I've found that it's been easy to transition back into the gym again. But only because I've got the folks here helping every step of the way,” says Danielle Voss. Voss, who works as an insurance claims adjuster, has noticed that day-to-day activities like climbing stairs and ladders that are part of her job, have already gotten easier. Participating in the study has also made the prospect of going back to the gym less intimidating, Voss says, because she’s learned the proper form and technique for each exercise. “I know I'm going to continue this routine after the study is done, because I've been able to get to that comfort level again,” she says. 

“The safety aspect has been impressive to me, because I'm used to years ago, when I went to a gym, it was just like, okay, fend for yourself,” Voss says. “Here, they're always there, counting all your reps for you, encouraging you, and it's a really great program.” 

How to know if you qualify

To qualify for this research study, participants should: be at least 18 years old; have a BMI between 19–35; have no history of diabetes or heart disease; and exercise once a week or less.

To learn more about MoTrPAC or begin the enrollment process, click here or email clinicaltrials@pbrc.edu.

Sponsored by Pennington Biomedical Research Center