Blood-based markers linked to aerobic (VO₂max/VO₂peak) fitness
Official title: Molecular Indicators of Systematic Fitness
Run by VO Health, Inc. · NCT07393841 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project will try a blood test to see if it can predict VO₂max/VO₂peak in adults who can safely complete maximal exercise testing.
Quick facts
| Study type | Observational |
|---|---|
| Ages | 18 Years and up |
| Sex | All |
| Enrollment | 250 (estimated) |
| Sponsor | VO Health, Inc. Industry-sponsored |
| Locations | 1 site (New Haven, Connecticut) |
| Status | Recruiting |
| Started | January 5, 2026 |
| Main results expected | January 5, 2028 |
| Study ends | May 10, 2028 |
| Registry record updated | February 6, 2026 |
| Trial ID | NCT07393841 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
Is this trial a fit for you?
✓Likely a good fit
Adults aged 18 and older who can give informed consent, are willing to provide fasting blood samples and complete maximal/symptom-limited VO₂max testing, and have no medical contraindications to maximal exercise testing.
✕Probably not a fit
People with unstable cardiovascular conditions, acute illness, inability or unwillingness to undergo venipuncture, or those who cannot safely perform maximal exercise testing are unlikely to benefit from participation.
A plain-English reading of the study's rules. Only the study team can confirm whether you qualify.
What this trial studies
This is a prospective observational cohort that pairs directly measured VO₂max/VO₂peak with fasting, resting blood samples collected on the same day. Investigators will use multi-analyte molecular measurements (for example proteomics and other blood biomarkers) to build predictors of cardiorespiratory fitness and to examine how those features vary by age, sex, and activity history. A subset of participants may provide repeat VO₂max and blood samples over time to test whether the biomarkers track changes after self-directed training. No interventions are assigned by investigators; the dataset is intended to support biomarker development and analytic reliability testing.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could enable a simple blood test to estimate aerobic fitness, making fitness measurement easier and more accessible for monitoring and personalized guidance.
How similar studies have gone: Prior research has found promising links between blood proteomics/metabolomics and fitness, but robust, generalizable multi-analyte predictors of VO₂max are still preliminary.
Who can join: the full rules
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria: * Be ≥18 years old * Be able to understand and provide informed consent (English; additional languages may be added via amendment with translated materials) * Be willing to complete VO₂max testing, blood draw, and questionnaires. * Be able to safely perform maximal/symptom-limited exercise testing as determined by: PAR-Q+ screening and investigator review (included as an attachment) and resting vitals screening (heart rate) Exclusion Criteria: * Conditions that, in the investigator's judgment, or a medical doctor, makes maximal exercise testing unsafe (e.g., unstable cardiovascular symptoms) * Contraindications or unwillingness to undergo venipuncture * Acute illness (fever, significant respiratory illness) at the time of testing * Failure to comply with procedures.
Where it's running
-
VO Health, Inc.
New Haven, Connecticut, United States Recruiting
Study contacts
- Study coordinator: Brooks P Leitner, MD, PhD
- Email: brooks@vohealth.co
- Phone: 443-474-7206
Similar studies
Other studies for the same condition or treatment. Recruiting studies are listed first.
-
Eccentric Hamstring Training vs Sprint-Specific Training for Hamstring Performance in Young Athletes
This study tests whether three hamstring training approaches (eccentric, sprint-based, and Romanian deadlift with Nordic hamstring) improve hamstring structure and sprint-related performance in healthy young athletes.
-
Pain and moderate exercise in midlife former athletes, masters athletes, and nonathletes
This trial tests if moderate-intensity strength versus aerobic exercise changes pain before and after workouts in adults aged 35–65 who are former competitive athletes, current master's athletes, or nonathletes.
-
Aquatic power training dosing strategies and creatine in older adults
This trial tests whether different aquatic power training dosing methods and creatine supplementation help improve function in community-dwelling adults aged 60 and older.
-
Oura Ring validation for sleep using gold-standard sleep tests
This study tests how well the Oura Ring matches the gold-standard sleep test ( PSG ) in healthy adults and people with sleep apnea.
-
Magnetic field maps with NV sensors for non-invasive heart measurements
This study tests whether diamond-based NV magnetometers can non-invasively detect and map the heart's magnetic field in healthy adults.
-
Intergenerational Interaction Program for Nursing Home Residents and Nursing Students
A 6-week program pairs nursing home residents with nursing students to see if weekly joint activities can increase joy and reduce loneliness for older adults and lessen ageism in students.
How to take part
- Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
- Check the official listing on ClinicalTrials.gov for the latest contact details and recruitment status.
- Contact the study coordinator or principal investigator to ask for pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.