Maléne Lindholm, PhD, Director, Department of Medicine /Cardiovascular Medicine, Stanford University

Research Description: Dr. Lindholm’s research program is dedicated to deciphering the specific molecular mechanisms that mediate the health benefits of exercise, a crucial determinant in combating the global health crisis posed by sedentary lifestyles. Integration of exercise interventions in humans and animals with cellular modeling are used to identify the molecular transducers of the exercise response for follow-up functional and mechanistic studies. Metabolically active tissues, including skeletal muscle and adipose are two key tissues of interest. In humans, responses to different exercise modalities are compared for effectiveness in improving metabolic health and fitness, as well as the interindividual differences in response. The influence of genetics, sex- and age on exercise capacity and the metabolic response to different exercise modalities are of specific interest. In cellular models, identified molecules of interest are investigated using functional genetics, including RNAi and CRISPR. The ultimate goal is to delineate the molecular pathways that confer exercise’s protective effects and translate these findings into actionable strategies for the prevention and treatment of cardiometabolic conditions. This integrative approach stands to offer transformative insights into public health policies and therapeutic innovations, marking a significant stride towards the amelioration of global health burdens associated with inactivity. Dr. Lindholm collaborates extensively with many members of the NORC.