Des Moines University Receives $300,000 Award From American Heart Association to Study Exercise

Des Moines University Medicine and Health Sciences has been awarded the Transformational Project Award from the American Heart Association to study the effects of estrogen on exercise.

The project, titled "Estrogen-Mediated Transcriptional Regulation of Exercise Behavior," is led by Li-Lian Yuan, Ph.D., a professor in DMU's physiology and pharmacology department, and Sarah Clayton, Ph.D., the collaborating investigator in the same department. They will receive approximately $300,000 in funding over three years, starting July 1, 2024.

"We know there are differences in how people participate in exercise, but we don't have a good handle on why," Clayton says. "This project would give us a better understanding of how exercise participation is modulated in the central nervous system, which could increase how much exercise people do and improve overall health and well-being."

The goal of the research project is to uncover the molecular and cellular mechanisms that drive exercise behavior, with a focus on how estrogen affects it. The research team will identify the estrogen receptors that influence voluntary wheel running behavior in rats and explore the individual and gender differences in exercise participation.

"Understanding the diverse mechanisms that drive exercise behavior is critical in addressing the health risks associated with a sedentary lifestyle," Yuan says. "Our research aims to provide valuable insights into how estrogen regulates exercise motivation and to identify potential targets for intervention."

Current research highlights a gap in knowledge regarding the factors influencing individual and gender differences in exercise behavior. This study seeks to fill these gaps and contribute to developing targeted interventions that promote physical activity and improve public health outcomes.

"This study has universal implications for understanding exercise behavior in both genders, with tremendous translational potential for preventing and managing chronic diseases," says Pravin Mishra, Ph.D., M.B.A., executive director of research at DMU. "Our researchers are exploring the cellular and molecular mechanisms that drive the choice to engage in exercise, using advanced animal models. This work could pave the way for interventions that promote physical activity across diverse populations, ultimately improving health outcomes for all."

The Transformational Project Award supports innovative projects that have the potential to lead to breakthroughs in health care. "Receiving this award validates the importance of our work and enables us to conduct high-impact research aligned with the AHA's mission to promote longer, healthier lives through scientific discovery," Yuan says.

The findings from this research could lead to the development of novel interventions to enhance physical activity, particularly among women, ultimately reducing the prevalence of chronic diseases linked to inactivity.

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