RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK, NC — February 24, 2026 — Lightship Inc., the modern clinical trial site organization committed to making research possible for all, today announced the appointment of Lindsay Van Pelt, MD, as its new Chief Medical Advisor. Dr. Van Pelt, an experienced principal investigator (PI) and emergency medicine physician, will provide clinical leadership at Lightship to support safe, audit-ready trial delivery across flexible visit settings.

“Great trials run on great clinical judgment,” said David MacMurchy, CEO of Lightship. “Dr. Van Pelt brings deep frontline experience to strengthen how we assess protocol feasibility and operational fit, support our sponsors and investigators, and keep participant safety at the center as we scale.”

Dr. Van Pelt has supported Phase 1–3 research and a range of study designs across her career, including dermatology and device trials, as well as neurology programs delivered through out-of-clinic visit models. Currently licensed in 16 states, she brings practical experience in multi-state medical oversight and escalation pathways, helping ensure participant safety and feasibility decisions stay grounded in how care is actually delivered.

“What drew me to Lightship is the combination of clinical rigor and a true focus on participants,” said Dr. Van Pelt. “The team is building a model that supports strong investigator oversight while giving people more practical ways to take part in research. I’m excited to help sponsors and sites deliver studies that are both high-quality and workable in the real world.”


With Dr. Van Pelt as Chief Medical Advisor, sponsors gain a senior clinical leader who helps clarify governance and supports consistent trial delivery across Lightship’s visit options, including in clinic, at home, and through virtual visits when appropriate. She will also serve as a sponsor-facing clinical resource, joining discussions and providing written responses to study-specific questions as programs move from feasibility to execution.

Dr. Van Pelt’s appointment follows recent investments in operational infrastructure, including a new headquarters and the acquisition of community-based care clinical operations company Veda Trials.

To learn more about Lightship’s site network and flexible trial delivery model, including how to partner, visit https://lightship.com.

Lightship Inc. is a modern clinical trial site organization committed to making research participation possible for all. We collaborate with biopharma and CROs to design and conduct studies that expand access and choice while accelerating new therapies. Through in-clinic, at-home, and mobile research unit visits, we support individuals from first contact to completion and deliver shorter timelines, stronger participant retention, greater diversity, and consistent quality and safety. At Lightship, we redefine what it means to be a clinical trial site. For more information, visit https://lightship.com.

Crossroads B2B Marketing on behalf of Lightship

Appointment strengthens clinical oversight and audit-ready execution across Lightship’s flexible visit model.

Lightship Appoints Dr. Lindsay Van Pelt as Chief Medical Advisor

RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK, NC — February 18, 2026 — Lightship Inc., the modern clinical trial site organization committed to making research possible for all, today announced that it has selected and implemented CRIO’s integrated eSource and site clinical trial management system (CTMS) to further standardize site workflows and strengthen operational visibility across its expanding network.

“Sponsors need confidence that site execution will be consistent across locations and over time,” said Darcy Forman, Chief Operating Officer of Lightship. “This implementation helps us standardize how work gets done, builds on the visibility we have across our network, and supports high-quality trial delivery as we scale.”

Lightship partners with biopharmaceutical companies and CROs to design and conduct studies that expand access and choice for research participants while supporting strong trial execution. Lightship facilitates flexible visit options, including in-clinic, at home, and on mobile research units, with a focus on reducing burden for participants and study teams.

With CRIO in place, Lightship will centralize key operational functions across its site network, including study operations, reporting, and oversight workflows, for repeatable execution across studies and locations. CRIO’s integrated eSource and site CTMS capabilities are intended to streamline site workflows, reduce administrative friction for teams, and strengthen operational insight across active programs.

CRIO is an eSource solution that enables data capture at the point of participant interaction to help reduce site burden and support protocol compliance. CRIO’s site CTMS integrates with the eSource platform to streamline site operations. For sponsors and CRO partners, this implementation reinforces:

●      More consistent workflows across an expanding site network

●      Stronger operational visibility through centralized site activity tracking and reporting

●      Repeatable execution across in-clinic, hybrid, and flexible visit models

“Site networks need systems that scale with their growth and standardize execution across studies and sites,” said Jonathan Andrus, co-CEO at CRIO. “We’re excited to support Lightship with an integrated eSource and site CTMS platform designed to centralize site operations, strengthen visibility, and reduce administrative burden for study teams.”

To learn more about Lightship’s site network and trial delivery model, including how to partner, visit https://lightship.com.

CRIO is a leading provider of eSource solutions for clinical research. The platform streamlines data collection and management, ensuring protocol compliance and reducing errors. By eliminating paper source and automating workflows, CRIO helps clinical trial sites and sponsors save time and money, improve data quality, and enhance patient safety. Our digital-first, site-centric approach makes clinical trials more efficient and effective. Learn more at clinicalresearch.io.

Largemouth Communications on behalf of CRIO

By leveraging CRIO’s platform, Lightship will centralize recruitment, compliance, financial management, and EDC entry to support consistent, efficient operations across its growing network.

Lightship Selects CRIO eSource and Site CTMS Platform to Support Scalable Trial Execution Across Its Expanding Site Network

High-performing clinical research starts long before a protocol is introduced. It begins with trust, built over time in the clinician’s exam room through consistency, familiarity, and care that feels personal. At Dominion Medical Associates in Richmond, Virginia, that trust has been earned across generations of families, grounded in long-standing relationships and a foundational commitment to community care.

“Patients must feel comfortable that you have their best interests at heart. And that’s not something you can just say out loud or talk about,” says Dr. Richard A. Jackson, MD. “It has to come across in conversation.”

Dominion Medical Associates is a long-standing primary care practice based in the historic Richmond neighborhood of Jackson Ward. Founded in 1911, the practice has served the community for more than a century, with family leadership spanning four generations. Today, Dr. Richard A. Jackson, MD, serves as Principal Investigator, working alongside his son, AJ Jackson, who leads clinical research operations and helps guide the practice’s growth.

To understand why trust runs so deep at Dominion, it helps to look at the practice’s roots in community access and the history that shaped healthcare in Richmond.

Dominion’s story is tied to Jackson Ward, which has long served as a center of Black life, culture, and business in Richmond. For generations, community members have come to Dominion for routine care, chronic disease management, and thoughtful, evidence-based guidance through health decisions that affect the whole family. That continuity matters, especially in communities where the healthcare system hasn’t always earned trust.

Dr. Jackson’s grandfather, Dr. Isaiah Jackson, was a pioneering physician, co-founding Richmond Community Hospital, which became a crucial access point for Black patients and Black physicians at a time when care options were limited and segregated. Dr. Jackson describes Richmond Community Hospital as a point of pride for the community, built to provide care with dignity and autonomy. 

“It was the pride of the Black community because, as you know, back in those days, the only place you could go was Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU)’s ‘special place’ for folks like us. It was groundbreaking…that we finally have our own real live hospital.”

Today, some of Dominion’s patient relationships span generations, and families still share stories about what it meant to have a healthcare practice that treated them with respect from the start.

The practice has a legacy of supporting new physicians, with an unwritten expectation that experienced clinicians help new doctors find their footing and learn the rhythms of community-based care.

Over the years, the approach has strengthened local access in a practical way. By recruiting and guiding early-career physicians and helping them establish themselves in Richmond, Dominion has contributed to a broader ecosystem of care, connecting patients to nearly every specialty while keeping primary care relationships at the center. It’s a model built on a proven belief that community health improves when physicians invest in each other as much as they do their own practices.

That same “relationship-first” mindset makes clinical research feel like a natural extension of care at Dominion, rather than a separate program patients have to navigate on their own.

Why research fits naturally in primary care

Clinical research often feels quite separate from routine healthcare, with unfamiliar processes and clinicians, adding another layer of complexity and burden to managing one’s health. Dominion takes a different approach. Conversations about research happen inside an existing relationship, led by a care team that already knows the person sitting in front of them, their health history, and what matters in their day-to-day life.

“So when you bring up a subject about clinical research, they really feel like you have their best interests at heart. And so it just becomes a natural part of the conversation,” says Dr. Jackson.

Trust is what helps Dominion address one of the most common concerns people have when they first hear the words “clinical trial.” Rather than minimize preconceptions, the team names them, talks through them, and focuses on what participation actually looks like, including safety oversight and the support available throughout the study.

“Because, you could potentially see a trial as ‘oh, I’m a guinea pig,’ or you could see it as a way to help me be better than I am,” says Dr. Jackson.

On the operational side, AJ Jackson has helped build the structure needed to run multiple studies and maintain high levels of confidence among trial coordinators while keeping the practice’s daily care experience steady. He started supporting the research function in 2009, trained as a coordinator, and later became the director of the research department. Today, he focuses on research operations while also helping modernize how the broader practice runs.

With a primary care population that spans ages, conditions, and life circumstances, Dominion, under AJ’s guidance, is able to support studies across a wide range of therapeutic areas.

Because Dominion is a primary care practice, the team supports research that reflects the realities of everyday health. That includes studies in areas like:

●      Cardiovascular risk reduction

●      Diabetes-related complications

●      COPD and other chronic respiratory conditions

●      Gout and other chronic inflammatory conditions

For participants, this breadth of therapeutic areas can mean more opportunities to learn about studies that are relevant to their health needs. For sponsors, it signals a site grounded in real-world populations and long-term relationships, which supports feasibility, participant retention, and continuity over time.

Those strengths are amplified through Dominion’s partnership with Lightship, which helps make participation in research workable for people whose lives don’t fit neatly into a standard care schedule.

Partnership with Lightship: expanding access for real life

Dominion connected with Lightship during a period when the industry was exploring new ways to reduce burden and reach people who have historically been underrepresented in research. For Dominion, the partnership aligned with an existing commitment: meet people where they are, and make care feel accessible rather than complicated.

One example is supporting participation for people who may not be able to leave home easily due to disease progression, mobility limitations, or caregiver constraints. In these cases, study activities can be coordinated through virtual or hybrid care to reduce travel while maintaining investigator oversight. For example, a participant might complete parts of a study visit from home, while the investigator conferences in to answer questions, confirm clinical details, or make real-time decisions tied to safety and protocol requirements.

“And that…gives access to a patient that normally wouldn’t really be able to leave the house or care for themselves on their own,” says AJ.

Dominion is planning for what comes next, focused on growth while preserving the identity that made the practice a trusted anchor in Richmond in the first place. That includes expanding the care team with nurse practitioners and other providers, and exploring a second location to serve more people in the region. AJ also sees recruiting as a long-term priority, especially through medical school alumni connections and relationships that can help bring new clinicians into Richmond.

Even as healthcare economics and policy pressures shift, Dominion’s direction stays consistent: protect the trust that has been built over generations, and keep evolving in ways that make care and research participation more practical for real life.

“Onward and upward. Onward and upward,” says AJ.

For sponsors and CROs, Dominion brings something that’s difficult to manufacture quickly: deep community relationships, a primary care footprint, and a research operation designed to support people with professionalism and respect. For participants and their families, it offers the opportunity to consider research in a setting that feels familiar with a team that prioritizes comfort, clarity, quality, and safety.

Interested in partnering with community-rooted investigators who can support flexible visit models? Connect with Lightship today.

At Dominion Medical Associates in Richmond, Virginia, trust has been built over a century of community-based primary care. Today, that same relationship-first approach carries naturally into clinical research. In this Site Spotlight, Dr. Richard Jackson, Principal Investigator at Dominion, shares how long-standing patient relationships shape meaningful conversations about research, grounded in familiarity, transparency, and care that feels personal.

A Lightship Site Spotlight: Dominion Medical Associates’ Legacy of Community Care

RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK, NC — February 4, 2026 — Lightship Inc., the modern clinical trial site organization committed to making research possible for all, today announced it has acquired Veda Trials, a company specializing in end‑to‑end clinical operations delivered in community care settings. The acquisition strengthens Lightship’s ability to meet participants where they are and accelerate enrollment across more representative populations for sponsors, CROs, and health systems throughout the United States.

“This acquisition advances our mission to increase access, choice, and equity in clinical research,” said David MacMurchy, Chief Executive Officer of Lightship. “By combining Veda’s community‑based operations model with Lightship’s site network, hybrid delivery model, and mobile research services, we’ll help sponsors launch trials faster and reach more representative participant populations while maintaining our high standards of quality and data integrity.”

Veda Trials, originally backed by Redesign Health as the first institutional investor, enables clinics and local providers to run high-quality clinical trials by simplifying day-to-day trial execution. Technology streamlines site activation and study workloads, reducing operational burden for busy community clinics while maintaining rigorous research standards. Integrated with Lightship, these capabilities will accelerate startup, expand reach into community settings, and support stronger participant retention through near-home and in-home options.

“Veda was founded to make clinical research workable for real-world clinics,” said Lesley Solomon, Founder & CEO of Veda Trials. “By simplifying operations with technology that fits into everyday care, we help providers run trials without added complexity. Together with Lightship, we can scale that model nationally while preserving the execution quality sponsors expect.”

Strategic benefits of the combination include:

Faster start-up and scale: Unified operational playbooks and dedicated teams compress timelines from feasibility through first‑patient‑in.

Broader, representative access: The combined model expands reach into community clinics, including women’s health, dermatology, and allergy/asthma practices, alongside mobile research units and curated site networks.

Consistent quality & integrity: Replicable SOPs, experienced research staff, and fit‑for‑purpose technologies reduce site burden while maintaining data quality.

Participant‑first delivery: Flexible visit models (on‑site, near‑home, and in‑home) lower barriers and improve participant retention.

Veda Trials will operate as part of Lightship’s operations group, with near‑term priorities focused on aligning SOPs and training, accelerating activation of existing Veda partner clinics, and offering sponsors integrated packages spanning outreach, site operations, mobile care, and home visits with no disruption to active studies or site relationships.

The Veda team will join Lightship, with Founder and CEO Lesley Solomon continuing in her role and reporting to Lightship CEO David MacMurchy. Lesley will stay closely involved to ensure continuity for sites and partners as Veda’s capabilities are integrated into Lightship’s operations. Account teams will remain engaged throughout the integration to support customers and partners.

Lightship Inc. is a modern clinical trial site organization committed to making research participation possible for all. We collaborate with biopharma and CROs to design and conduct studies that expand access and choice while accelerating new therapies. Through in-clinic, at-home, and mobile research unit visits, we support individuals from first contact to completion and deliver shorter timelines, stronger participant retention, greater diversity, and consistent quality and safety. At Lightship, we redefine what it means to be a clinical trial site. For more information, visit http://lightship.com. 

Veda Trials enables community-based clinics to run high-quality clinical trials by simplifying operations and using technology to reduce friction. Veda accelerates activation, streamlines workflows, and helps providers integrate research into everyday care - bringing trials closer to patients and supporting faster enrollment for sponsors. Learn more at www.vedatrials.com.

Crossroads B2B Marketing on behalf of Lightship Inc.

 Lightship announced it has acquired Veda Trials, a company specializing in end‑to‑end clinical operations delivered in community care settings. The acquisition strengthens Lightship’s ability to meet participants where they are and accelerate enrollment across more representative populations for sponsors, CROs, and health systems throughout the United States.

Lightship Inc. Acquires Veda Trials to Expand Community-Based Clinical Research Delivery

Move reinforces long-term investment in the life sciences ecosystem and supports the site organization’s next phase of growth

RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK, NC – January 26, 2026 – Lightship Inc., the modern clinical trial site organization committed to making research possible for all, announced today that it has relocated its headquarters to Research Triangle Park (RTP), North Carolina. The move strengthens day-to-day collaboration across the company’s leadership and operational teams as Lightship continues to scale.

Lightship’s expanded access site model supports clinical trials across in-clinic, hybrid, and virtual settings through one trusted partner. By aligning each visit to the most practical setting, Lightship helps trial teams support protocol requirements while reducing operational complexity, improving participant retention, and strengthening representation across diverse communities. 

“Relocating our headquarters to RTP reflects where we are today as well as where we’re going,” said David MacMurchy, Chief Executive Officer of Lightship. “As a life science hub, the RTP region brings together clinical research expertise, operational talent, and an ecosystem built for collaboration. It’s a strong fit for our mission and a practical base as we continue to scale high-quality trial execution.”

“This move strengthens how we operate day to day and connects us to a deep talent pool in clinical research and operations,” said Darcy Forman, Chief Operating Officer of Lightship. “As we grow, we stay anchored in consistent oversight, unified processes, and a smooth participant experience across every setting, whether that’s in-clinic, at home, or in the community.”

Lightship’s approach is supported by experienced investigators and study teams, unified SOPs, and the ability to integrate with sponsors’ preferred technology platforms and workflows. The company’s capabilities include physical sites, home visits supported by Lightship nursing staff, and Mobile Research Units (MRUs) that extend access through community-based education, recruitment, prescreening, and select study visits.

“RTP gives us access to exceptional talent, and I’m genuinely excited to continue building a strong team here,” said Michael Shipton, Chief Business Officer of Lightship. “This is an ecosystem that supports our commitment to sponsors and CROs: to deliver the kind of trial performance that earns long-term partnerships.”

The move to RTP follows Lightship’s recent go-to-market evolution and reinforces the company’s commitment to scaling its flexible site model as a practical approach to trial execution for sponsors, CROs, and participants alike. 

Lightship Inc. is a modern clinical trial site organization committed to making research participation possible for all. We collaborate with biopharma and CROs to design and conduct studies that expand access and choice while accelerating new therapies. Through in-clinic, at-home, and mobile research unit visits, we support individuals from first contact to completion and deliver shorter timelines, stronger participant retention, greater diversity, and consistent quality and safety. At Lightship, we redefine what it means to be a clinical trial site. For more information, visit https://lightship.com. 

Contact: Brittany Kearns
Phone: 571-271-7211
Email: brittany@crossroadsb2b.com

Lightship Inc. announced today that it has relocated its headquarters to Research Triangle Park (RTP), North Carolina. The move strengthens day-to-day collaboration across the company’s leadership and operational teams as Lightship continues to scale.

Lightship Inc. Relocates Headquarters to Research Triangle Park, North Carolina

- Hybrid trial model enhances participant access, retention, and enrollment efficiency across underserved and rural communities -

POTOMAC, MD / ACCESS Newswire / January 12, 2026 / IGC Pharma, Inc. (NYSE American:IGC) ("IGC" or the "Company"), a clinical-stage pharmaceutical company leveraging Artificial Intelligence (AI) to develop innovative treatments for Alzheimer's disease, today announced the addition of Dominion Medical Associates, Inc., a Richmond, Virginia-based clinical research site within Lightship's site network, to the Company's Phase 2 CALMA clinical trial evaluating IGC-AD1 for the treatment of agitation in Alzheimer's disease.

Dominion Medical Associates will operate under Lightship's expanded access clinical trial model, combining in-clinic assessments with remote and in-home participant activities as part of a flexible hybrid and virtual delivery approach. This participant-centric approach is designed to expand access, reduce burden, improve retention, and enhance trial efficiency. Dominion Medical Associates is led by Founder and Principal Investigator Dr. Richard Allen Jackson, and Director of Clinical Research Richard "AJ" Jackson.

"The addition of Dominion Medical Associates represents a meaningful step forward in expanding access to our CALMA trial," said Ram Mukunda, CEO of IGC Pharma. "Their hybrid model aligns with our strategy to reach patients in underserved and rural communities while maintaining high-quality clinical oversight and data integrity."

Advancing Enrollment Through Hybrid and Flexible Site-Based Trial Design

Dominion Medical Associates, as part of Lightship's site network, uses a hybrid model that allows certain trial activities to take place in participants' homes. This model offers several key advantages:

Broader participant access, including individuals in more remote locations and those with limited ability to travel.

Improved convenience that supports retention throughout the trial.

Scalability across multiple regions, enabling greater participant diversity and more robust data.

To support the remote components of the trial, Dominion Medical Associates partners with Lightship to deliver hybrid and virtual study visits, supported by trained mobile research nurses, validated technology solutions, and centralized clinical support. Through this approach, remote and in-home study visits are coordinated and conducted with consistent investigator oversight, maintaining protocol adherence, data integrity, and regulatory compliance while extending research participation beyond traditional clinic settings.

"Hybrid clinical trials represent the future of participant-centered research," Mukunda added. "By integrating experienced clinical sites with on-site, hybrid, and virtual visit models, we believe IGC Pharma can accelerate enrollment while maintaining rigorous clinical standards."

IGC-AD1 is a cannabinoid-based investigational therapy currently being evaluated in a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled Phase 2 clinical trial for agitation associated with Alzheimer's disease. The continued expansion of the CALMA clinical network across the United States reflects IGC Pharma's commitment to efficient trial execution, patient diversity, and timely study completion. This approach leverages community-based clinical sites and flexible visit options to extend research participation beyond traditional clinic settings.

To learn more about the trial and participation, visit: Link.

IGC Pharma (NYSE American:IGC) is a clinical-stage biotechnology company leveraging AI to develop innovative treatments for Alzheimer's and metabolic disorders. Our lead asset, IGC-AD1, is a cannabinoid-based therapy currently in a Phase 2 trial (CALMA) for agitation in Alzheimer's dementia. Our pipeline includes TGR-63, targeting amyloid plaques, and early-stage programs focused on neurodegeneration, tau proteins, and metabolic dysfunctions. We integrate AI to accelerate drug discovery, optimize clinical trials, and enhance patient targeting. With a complete patent portfolio and a commitment to innovation, IGC Pharma is advancing breakthrough therapies.

Lightship is a modern clinical trial site organization committed to making research participation possible for all. We collaborate with biopharma and CROs to design and conduct studies that expand access and choice while accelerating new therapies. Through in-clinic, at-home, and mobile research unit visits, we support participants from first contact to completion and deliver shorter timelines, stronger retention, greater diversity, and consistent quality and safety. At Lightship, we redefine what it means to be a clinical trial site.

This press release contains forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are based largely on IGC Pharma's expectations and are subject to several risks and uncertainties, certain of which are beyond IGC Pharma's control. Actual results could differ materially from these forward-looking statements as a result of, among other factors, the Company's failure or inability to commercialize one or more of the Company's products or technologies, including the products or formulations described in this release, or failure to obtain regulatory approval for the products or formulations, where required, or government regulations affecting AI or the AI algorithms not working as intended or producing accurate predictions; general economic conditions that are less favorable than expected; the FDA's general position regarding cannabis- and hemp-based products; and other factors, many of which are discussed in IGC Pharma's U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC") filings. IGC incorporates by reference its Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the SEC on June 27, 2025, as if fully incorporated and restated herein. Considering these risks and uncertainties, there can be no assurance that the forward-looking information contained in this release will occur. IGC Pharma, Inc. assumes no obligation to update forward-looking statements contained in this release as the result of new information or future events or developments.

Rosalyn Christian / John Nesbett
IMS Investor Relations
igc@imsinvestorrelations.com
(203) 972-9200

As part of this study evaluating IGC-AD1 for agitation in Alzheimer’s disease, Dominion Medical Associates will operate under the Lightship expanded access site model, combining in-clinic assessments with hybrid, virtual, and in-home visits. This flexible approach is designed to reduce burden for participants and caregivers, improve retention, and expand access to research for individuals who may otherwise face barriers to participation.

IGC Pharma Expands Phase 2 CALMA Trial with New Clinical Site at Dominion Medical Associates, a Lightship Network Site, in Richmond, Virginia

Lightship’s Strategy Begins With Expanded Access

Clinical research is still finding its footing after the swings of the last few years. During the pandemic, teams leaned heavily on virtual solutions to keep studies moving while social distancing was in place. As those requirements eased, the industry shifted back toward familiar brick-and-mortar models with long-established oversight processes. Today, most organizations are somewhere in the middle. Sponsors want safe, low-risk innovation, participants want research that fits into their daily lives, and everyone is trying to balance quality with practicality.

This balance is where Lightship’s expanded access site model sits. Our approach starts with a simple question: how easy is it for someone to join and stay in a trial?

For many people, the honest answer is: not very. For full-time workers, caregivers, or anyone who lives far from a site or in a congested metro area, a clinic-only model turns each visit into a logistical hurdle. Rather than forcing trials into a single delivery approach, Lightship offers a set of options that flex around real lives: in-clinic visits at trusted sites, home and community visits supported by mobile nurses and mobile research units (MRUs), and virtual oversight where it’s safe and appropriate.

The same expanded access model that opens the door for participants also gives sponsors a practical way to move along the innovation curve at their own pace. In Darcy Forman’s recent piece, we explored how a three-pillar approach can de-risk a study by matching each visit to the right setting. In this article, we take the next step: how that philosophy shapes our go-to-market strategy, how it shows up in enrollment and retention, and what it means for sponsors that want one trusted partner for the full patient journey.

Most people come to clinical research while actively managing a health condition. They’re looking for better treatment options at the same time they’re juggling work, school drop-offs, caregiving, and everything else in their lives. Traditional clinic-only models often assume people can easily participate, when in reality each visit can mean unpaid time off, new childcare arrangements, and a long trip to a site.

Those demands add up and help explain why many people express interest but never book a first visit, or withdraw once participation collides with daily life. When every appointment requires repeated travel to a clinic during business hours, trials tend to enroll people with flexible schedules, strong support systems, and more resources. Others, no matter how highly motivated, are effectively shut out.

Lightship’s expanded access model is built to remove as much of that friction as possible. By offering in-clinic, hybrid, and at-home options under one coordinated framework, we can adapt visit schedules and locations to real life instead of asking participants to rearrange their lives around the protocol. For some, that might mean in-clinic visits for complex procedures and home visits for routine safety checks. For others, it might mean evening visits after work, or meeting at an MRU parked in a familiar community setting.

One of our nurses described a recent cystic fibrosis study that brought our concept to life. The participant was a young woman whose daily routine reflected the progress of modern cystic fibrosis (CF) care. She worked full-time, lived with friends, and managed her condition with confidence. The protocol for this study required frequent pharmacokinetic (PK) blood draws. In a traditional model, she would have needed to take repeated time off and commute across a busy city several times a week just to stay on schedule.

Instead, the trial came to her. The nurse conducted many of the required visits in the participant’s home during evening hours, coordinating with the rest of the study team to keep every procedure aligned with the protocol. The participant could finish her workday, keep her routine, and still contribute to a study with real potential to help others living with CF. She told the team that without that flexibility, she would not have been able to stay in the trial.

From our nurse’s perspective, this was a concrete example of how choice preserves engagement and trust. When the study model respects someone’s time, responsibilities, and safety, they’re far more likely to remain involved through the last visit. It’s a key reason Lightship’s retention rates are around 95% across many studies. Expanded access doesn’t lower our expectations of participants; it gives them a fair chance to meet those expectations without sacrificing the rest of their lives.

Choice matters just as much for sponsors and CROs as it does for participants. Lightship’s expanded access site model is built to support the full range of trial delivery through a single partner, so teams aren’t locked into a single way of running a study or forced to layer on new vendors every time they add flexibility. Complex procedures stay in-clinic, routine safety checks can move into the home, and long-term follow-up can rely on virtual visits when appropriate. One coordinated framework supports all three, so teams can design around protocol and patient while streamlining the number of external providers they need to manage.

Across comparable studies, Lightship has enrolled at least three times more participants than traditional brick-and-mortar sites in similar timeframes. That performance is driven by a few levers working together:

Investigators draw on EMRs and existing patient relationships.

Our teams collaborate with tech-agnostic recruitment partners when needed.

MRUs create community-based awareness, education, and prescreening that would never happen inside clinic walls alone.

Together, these channels extend reach while reducing the number of separate vendors and handoffs sponsors have to oversee..

Startup performance follows the same pattern. Because site services, home nursing, and virtual oversight sit under one organization and one SOP structure, Lightship typically moves from site identification to site initiation in less than eight weeks, with some studies activating in as few as four.

Quality and oversight underpin everything. Lightship has completed more than thirty audits with zero critical findings and has engaged with the FDA twice. Investigators, MRU staff, home nurses, and coordinators all work from unified SOPs, so oversight stays consistent across settings. For sponsors and CROs, that combination of flexibility, measurable performance, and high quality turns choice into a risk-conscious strategy rather than a variable to manage.

One Trusted Partner for the Entire Patient Journey

For sponsors and CROs, the value of this approach is having one coordinated partner that can carry a participant from first contact through the last visit, across different settings, without losing continuity.

In traditional models, adding flexibility often means adding vendors, each with its own contracts, SOPs, and handoffs. A site manages in-clinic visits. An external nursing agency handles home visits. Separate technology platforms run telemedicine and participant outreach. On paper, it looks like choice, but in practice, sponsors inherit more interfaces, more risk, and more work.

With Lightship’s expanded access model, sponsors get one organization that provides in-clinic site services, home and community visits, MRUs, and virtual oversight. Investigators, coordinators, and nurses operate within one SOP framework, supported by the technology platforms a sponsor is already using. Oversight travels with the participant, whether they're at a brick-and-mortar site, at home, or at an MRU in the community.

For sponsors, that means they can plan around one set of relationships and one quality system instead of stitching together a patchwork of providers. For participants, it means they see a consistent team across settings, which builds trust and lowers the barrier to staying engaged.


Flexible Models Can Be Innovative and Practical

Lightship’s strategy starts with a straightforward idea: design around the lives of participants and the comfort level of sponsors, then give both groups real choices in how research is delivered. In-clinic, hybrid, and virtual models all sit inside one expanded access framework. Our metrics (higher enrollment, strong retention, and faster startup) show what sponsors stand to gain.

In our experience, expanded access models are fundamentally practical. They increase the chances that the right participants can join and stay in a study, and help teams meet enrollment goals and study timelines without sacrificing quality or oversight. And, by relying on one trusted partner that can flex across settings, sponsors can support the full patient journey while keeping quality at the center.

The result is straightforward: trials move forward with fewer barriers between intent and impact.

Clinical research shouldn’t force participants to rearrange their lives to take part, but expanded access is reshaping study delivery for both participants and sponsors. By offering in-clinic, at-home, hybrid, and community-based options under one coordinated framework, Lightship is helping teams enroll more efficiently, retain participants at ~95%, and maintain high-quality oversight—all while giving people real choice in how they take part.

Designing Trials Around Real Life: The Operational Benefits of Expanded Access Site Models

In this edition of our “Meet the Team” blog series, we’re excited to spotlight Taylor Tanner, Senior Manager of Clinical Trial Design. Taylor plays a key role in shaping how studies come to life at Lightship, helping to determine where and how visits occur (in-clinic, at home, on our mobile research unit [MRU], or through telemedicine), so participants have options that fit their daily lives. Taylor helps ensure that every study reflects Lightship’s mission.

We’re so happy to speak with you, Taylor! Tell us, how long have you been with Lightship? What brought you here?

I’ve been with Lightship for 4.5 years, and the time has truly flown by. I first learned about the company through a former colleague whom I deeply respect, and I was immediately drawn to Lightship’s mission of expanding access to clinical trials, making participation possible regardless of geography or daily commitments. It’s been an incredible journey, and I’m proud to contribute to work that makes a meaningful impact.

What does a typical day in your role look like?

In my role, I evaluate study protocols to determine the most effective Lightship delivery model: site-based, hybrid, or virtual. This assessment incorporates study requirements, participant population considerations, sponsor objectives, and input from our clinical operations team. Our goal is to design an approach that supports quality and consistency while giving participants meaningful options in how they take part.


How does your work contribute to Lightship’s mission of making research participation possible for all?

By reviewing each assessment to identify visits that can be conducted outside of the site, we enhance flexibility and choice for participants, making trial participation more accessible. Options such as community-based visits on our MRU or in-home visits with a Lightship research nurse reduce time away from family and work, which improves the overall participant experience.


Can you share a moment or project at Lightship that made you feel particularly proud?

I’m proud to support Lightship’s annual Season of Giving initiative. Each year, as we celebrate the holiday season, our team comes together for a day of service, giving back to the communities where we live and work. This year, we’re focusing on organizations dedicated to fighting hunger, a cause that reflects our core values of Impact and Service.

What is your favorite part about working at Lightship?
There’s so much I appreciate about Lightship! First and foremost, our incredible team, dedicated to seamlessly supporting sponsors and studies while fostering a collaborative, enjoyable environment. It’s rare for a meeting to pass without a shared laugh or a dad joke! 


I also value the variety in our work. Every sponsor and study indication requires a tailored approach to meet participant needs. Ultimately, our efforts focus on improving lives by meeting participants where they are, regardless of mobility, health conditions, or life obligations.


Outside of work, I enjoy spending time with my husband and daughters, visiting national parks, exploring new restaurants, and proudly cheering on UNC basketball. Go Heels!

Thank you, Taylor, for sharing your story and for the thoughtful work you bring to every study design. Your commitment to expanding access and creating participant-centered experiences strengthens every trial we deliver. Stay tuned for our next “Meet the Team” highlight!


In this edition of our “Meet the Team” blog series, we’re excited to spotlight Taylor Tanner, Senior Manager of Clinical Trial Design. Taylor plays a key role in shaping how studies come to life at Lightship, helping to determine where and how visits occur, so participants have options that fit their daily lives. 

Meet the Team: Taylor Tanner, Senior Manager, Clinical Trial Design

In a recent episode of The Healthcare Technology Report podcast, Lightship CEO David MacMurchy spoke with host RJ Lumba about the company’s mission and the lessons he’s learned from a career spent with some of the industry's largest organizations. The conversation traces Lightship’s role in expanding access to clinical research, the structural barriers that persist for many communities, and the leadership principles guiding the company as it scales. 

Read the highlights from David’s conversation below.

Lightship’s flexible engagement model is expanding access by meeting patients where they are.
David begins by discussing Lightship’s core mission: to make it possible for all people to join clinical trials. By delivering flexible on-site, hybrid, and virtual trials, Lightship is able to reach participants that might not otherwise be able to take part in research due to their location, work, or family responsibilities. Mobile research units (MRUs) support all delivery models; Lightship parks these units in the community, such as retail parking lots or near local events. Staffed by Lightship nurses, MRUs can be paired with in-home visits to complete appropriate endpoints, which makes trial participation far more realistic for people juggling work and caregiving.

David notes that “by far and away, the most successful and most surprising part of the growth of the business has been recruiting by actually going into communities and meeting people where they are.” For example, nurses and staff attend Alzheimer’s walks and health fairs to talk directly with families who are curious about research. Those conversations flow into a growing database of participants, supported by partnerships with health systems, collaboration with local sites, and targeted digital outreach. According to David, because Lightship reaches participants who don’t live near traditional trial sites, its recruitment funnel is broader than a standard site model. This supports faster enrollment and strong completion, with a retention rate of 96%. Or, as David puts it simply, “[The model] works pretty well.”

Solving for structural inequities in clinical trial access and increasing representation
Lightship’s model is built to tackle the structural issues that keep many people out of research in the first place. David talks about the tight link between lower socioeconomic status and lack of access to clinical trials, and how that aligns with the long-standing underrepresentation of people of color in U.S. studies.

Time is a large barrier to participation; a burden compounded for those in large cities like Los Angeles or New York, where a few miles of travel can mean hours in traffic. For many people, taking time off work for repeated clinic visits simply isn’t possible. David says that even when someone is referred to a trial and expresses early interest, “they may sign up for it, but they never complete the study because it’s just too much of a burden on them.”

David says that by meeting people close to where they live and work through virtual, hybrid, and mobile visits, Lightship reduces that burden in a very practical way. Participants can stay in trials over several months or years without risking their jobs or income. That leads to better retention, more representative enrollment, and higher quality data that reflects the communities therapies are meant to serve.

David’s history, leadership, and a disciplined approach to scaling Lightship
David’s career across Pfizer, PRA Health Sciences, IQVIA, and Ernst & Young shaped how he thinks about building and scaling a company in a high-stakes environment. He saw how delayed or under-enrolled trials strain R&D teams and redirect budgets, which led him to a simple conclusion when founding Lightship: solving for access, enrollment, and retention delivers value for sponsors and better outcomes for participants.

Lightship’s growth strategy reflects that point of view. David emphasizes scaling in a way that protects quality because the team is delivering real clinical care. He notes that “[r]apid, rapid growth…it puts a risk on quality, and quality is central to what we do.” Lightship’s investors and leaders support that measured approach. As Lightship expands, Chief Operating Officer Darcy Forman and Chief Business Officer Michael Shipton play a central role. Both bring deep operational experience and a shared commitment to patient experience and thoughtful, sustainable growth, ensuring Lightship scales responsibly while staying grounded in its mission.

David’s leadership ethos sets the tone for this approach. He is candid about what he knows and what he is still learning, and he seeks partners who value transparency and honest problem-solving. Advice from mentors about finding purpose in the work continues to guide him, and for David, that purpose is clear: expanding access to research and improving outcomes for communities historically left out of clinical trials.

If you would like to learn more about Lightship’s model or explore partnership opportunities, we’re always open to a conversation. Visit www.lightship.com or reach out to our team to connect.

In a recent episode of The Healthcare Technology Report podcast, Lightship CEO David MacMurchy spoke with host RJ Lumba about the company’s mission and the lessons he’s learned from a career spent with some of the industry's largest organizations. The conversation traces Lightship’s role in expanding access to clinical research, the structural barriers that persist for many communities, and the leadership principles guiding the company as it scales. 

Expanding Clinical Trial Access: Lightship’s CEO David MacMurchy on The Healthcare Technology Report

In this installment of our “Meet the Team” blog series, we talk to Carrie Kibler, Clinical Research Nurse, about what it’s like to travel across the country supporting Lightship’s studies, why flexibility and organization are key in clinical research, and how she sees Lightship changing the participant experience.

Hi Carrie! Thanks for doing this. Let’s start with the basics. How long have you been with Lightship? What brought you here?

I’ve been with Lightship for a year and a half. What brought me here was the mission: being people-first and increasing access to clinical trials for all. I wanted to be part of a team that’s transforming how research reaches people.

A typical day for me involves contacting participants to complete consent or schedule visits, flying or driving across states to see them, carrying out nursing duties during visits or screenings, and staying meticulously organized to prepare for each one. I upload data to research portals, keep our study platforms and spreadsheets current, and make sure every visit has the materials and information needed.

Detail and organization are critical in research, especially for an in-home and travel-based model like ours. Every visit depends on preparation and precision.


How do you see Lightship transforming the clinical trial experience for participants?

Lightship’s expanded access clinical research model and the options it provides is essential today. Participants frequently face challenges getting to in-person sites between busy schedules, mobility issues or debilitating health conditions, and long travel distances. Lightship’s flexible model changes that. We meet participants where they are, whether at home, in clinics, or through mobile research units, making participation easier and more inclusive. As technology continues to advance and our medical equipment becomes increasingly smaller and mobile, I see only great things for Lightship’s participants.

What motivates or inspires you in your work?

What motivates me as a travel research nurse is bringing medical support and life-changing opportunities to everyone, regardless of their socioeconomic status or location. I also love seeing participants’ gratitude firsthand as they improve their own health and help pave the way for others.


What is your favorite part about working at Lightship?
My favorite part of Lightship is working with great, dedicated co-workers and getting to see different parts of the country along the way!

I enjoy resistance training and hanging out with family and my vizslas.


Thank you, Carrie, for sharing your story and for the role you play in supporting Lightship’s mission to make clinical research more accessible and people-centered. Stay tuned for our next “Meet the Team” feature!

Meet the Team: Carrie Kibler, Clinical Research Nurse

Forced innovation and a return to tradition

In early 2020, clinical research found itself in uncharted waters. Faced with the pandemic, sponsors, sites, and regulators had to pivot quickly. According to a report in The Lancet, around 80% of non-COVID-19 trials were stopped or interrupted. Innovation, therefore, wasn’t optional; it was the only way to keep research moving. Studies that once relied on clinic visits embraced telemedicine, remote monitoring, and direct-to-patient shipment of investigational product. 

But as the urgency of that moment faded, many organizations retreated to the familiar—returning to site-first workflows that feel easier to monitor, defend, and explain. The instinct is understandable. Familiar processes seem safer.

Yet risk lives in rigidity as much as novelty. Forcing every visit into a single delivery model—whether all in-clinic or all virtual—creates friction, adds unnecessary complexity, and ultimately makes trials harder to run.

A steadier, lower-risk path is to plan for choice. That’s the principle behind Lightship’s expanded access model: giving sponsors and participants in-clinic, hybrid, and virtual options, all managed under one roof. By meeting teams where they are on the innovation curve and offering participants flexible ways to engage, we reduce risk while expanding reach.

When teams commit to one delivery model too early, the plan starts driving the protocol instead of the other way around. Schedules of assessments rarely move in a straight line: a biopsy or imaging window sits next to a run of routine safety checks; a complex dose visit is followed by a quick adverse-event review. Treating every visit as if it needs the same setting forces unnecessary complexity somewhere, either by pulling simple tasks into the clinic or by stretching at-home methods past what’s been proven and practicable. Oversight becomes harder to defend, handoffs multiply, and participants feel the friction.

A steadier path is to design for choice from the start. Keeping all three options on the table allows sponsors to place each visit in the least complex acceptable setting—anchoring complex work in the clinic, shifting routine work when it can be done safely at home, and using telemedicine for what it does best: extending reach and continuity.

Trial delivery isn’t binary - traditional or innovative, on-site or virtual. Most protocols benefit from using more than one setting across the schedule of assessments. Each pillar in Lightship’s model represents a unique type of trial delivery, and each brings distinct value:

In-clinic (brick & mortar): The anchor for complex or invasive procedures, imaging, or anything requiring specialized equipment and immediate intervention. Lowest risk, highest familiarity.

Hybrid (clinic + home/telemedicine): This is the sweet spot for most protocols. Mobile nurses conduct blood draws, PK samples, vitals, and telemedicine-guided physicals in the home, while keeping complex work in-clinic. Evening and weekend visits reduce missed appointments.

Virtual (home/telemedicine with PI oversight): Best for long-term follow-ups, clinician-reported assessments that don’t require equipment-heavy procedures, and patient-reported outcomes. Ideal for extending reach to participants far from sites or constrained by schedules.

Additionally, each type of trial delivery can be supported by Lightship’s Mobile Research Unit (MRU), serving as an extension of a physical site as needed.

The working rule is simple: match the mode to the visit, not the study. Designing for choice keeps the protocol in the driver’s seat, reduces unnecessary complexity, and gives participants flexibility without sacrificing quality.

Quality and oversight—without contortions

In a three-pillar model, quality comes down to continuity and simplicity. Investigator oversight travels with the participant, regardless of the location. Technology underpins this continuity, providing a single backbone across in-clinic, hybrid, and virtual visits.

Consistency: The same PI and CRCs anchor oversight across settings. Whenever possible, the same nurse who sees a participant in the clinic can also support them at home, building trust, improving recall, and strengthening engagement.

Transparency: Clear delegation logs, standardized SOPs, and simple visit briefs make it obvious who saw what, who decided what, and what happened next. Shared technology platforms ensure those records are visible across all settings.

Integration: A unified technology backbone keeps oversight seamless, with real-time data capture, alerts, and documentation that follow the participant across settings. Weekly PI–staff reviews and automated triggers highlight issues such as missed PK windows, courier delays, reschedules early, so they can be addressed before they become patterns.

By combining trusted clinical relationships with a technology backbone that integrates across all three pillars—and is agnostic in order to plug into a sponsor’s existing platforms and workflows—oversight stays intact, quality is preserved, and every visit has the same oversight and quality regardless of modality.

Procurement and cost: where complexity hides

The building blocks of flexible research—sites, home nursing, telemedicine—already exist. Risk creeps in when they’re assembled piecemeal. Every new vendor adds contracts, start-ups, training, monitoring, and handoffs. Each on its own may be manageable; taken together, they widen timelines and create more places for something to stall.

By consolidating under one coordinated team, sponsors reduce redundant start-ups and avoid parallel systems. Lightship sites, home nurses, and virtual platforms operate under the same SOP framework, led by the same investigators. That consistency not only cuts down on contracts and vendor management burden—it also matters deeply to investigators. When study staff comes from within the Lightship team, investigators know and trust the nurses, are comfortable with delegation, and remain confident that oversight is preserved.

This is where many hybrid models have struggled. Investigators are often reluctant to delegate tasks to external nursing vendors who follow different SOPs and are unfamiliar, which limits adoption and undercuts the potential benefits of at-home support. In Lightship’s model, those barriers are minimized. The same team that anchors the study in-clinic also extends care into the home, ensuring adoption, quality, and continuity without compromise.

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