Christopher Mosher, MD, assistant professor in the Division of Pulmonary, Allergy, and Critical Care Medicine and a faculty member within the Duke Clinical Research Institute (DCRI), has been named a recipient of the 2026 DCRI Excellence Award for Innovation, recognizing his leadership in advancing new treatment options for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and his contributions to clinical research innovation.
The DCRI Innovator Award honors individuals, project teams, or departments that develop creative new ideas and work to improve or expand clinical research. Award recipients are selected for their commitment to excellence, innovation, leadership, and dedication to advancing the DCRI mission.
Mosher was recognized for his leadership of three innovative COPD clinical trials — SEABREEZE, OBERON, and STRIDE — that are advancing the development of biologic therapies for patients with severe lung disease.
“These groundbreaking trials are precision medicine in action,” one nominator wrote. “By replacing standard inhaler treatment with targeted biologic therapy and using blood eosinophils to identify patients most likely to benefit, Dr. Mosher’s work addresses a critical unmet need and brings tremendous promise to patients with COPD.”
Through the SEABREEZE, OBERON, and STRIDE studies, Mosher is helping to advance the development of biologic therapies for individuals with severe COPD while expanding access to promising new treatment options.
Among his notable research accomplishments is leading the first U.S. cost-effectiveness analysis of pulmonary rehabilitation, published in JAMA Network Open. The study has been widely cited and has helped inform conversations about the value of evidence-based COPD care.
Mosher’s impact extends beyond research publications. In fall 2025, he co-chaired a DCRI Think Tank in Washington, D.C., titled “From Survival to Significance: Evolving Endpoints Beyond Mortality and Related Hard Outcomes Across Clinical Research.” The event brought together experts to explore innovative ways to measure meaningful outcomes in clinical trials.
He also recently shared his expertise as a featured guest on DCRI’s podcast, Beyond the Endpoint, where he discussed emerging developments in COPD research and treatment.
Colleagues praised Mosher’s ability to combine innovative thinking, scientific rigor, and collaborative leadership. “Chris is always pushing the envelope,” one nominator noted. “He is thinking of new ways to promote the DCRI, advance pulmonary clinical research, and develop site networks. It is remarkable that, as a junior faculty member, he has already reshaped how we think about COPD research at the DCRI.”
The recognition reflects both the scientific impact of Mosher’s work and his commitment to collaboration across disciplines. His efforts have strengthened respiratory research at Duke while helping accelerate the development of more personalized treatments for patients with chronic lung disease.