As a board-certified neurologist licensed in 24 states, Dr. Kang brings deep expertise in movement disorders and virtual research
RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK, NC — April 29, 2026 — Lightship Inc., the clinical trial site network that brings research to participants in clinics, at home, and through mobile research units, today announced the appointment of Gail Kang, MD, as a dedicated Principal Investigator (PI). Board-certified in neurology and licensed in 24 states, Dr. Kang anchors Lightship’s growing neurology capabilities and will build out virtual trial delivery in close partnership with Chief Medical Advisor Lindsay Van Pelt, MD.
“Dr. Kang brings the specialized judgment neurology trials require, along with hands-on experience extending care to participants beyond a single clinic’s reach,” said Dr. Van Pelt. “As Lightship grows, we’re deliberately building a connected medical community that ensures every sponsor, investigator, and participant feels the same clinical leadership behind them, regardless of the study setting.”
Dr. Kang brings more than two decades of clinical and research experience across a wide range of neurological conditions including neurodegenerative diseases, traumatic brain injury, headaches, and peripheral nerve disorders. After completing a neurology residency and Movement Disorders fellowship at UCLA, she went on to have faculty and clinical roles at the UCSF Memory and Aging Clinic, UCLA, the San Francisco VA Medical Center, as well as ten years of providing private practice clinical care, and she has served as PI and sub-investigator on virtual trials for Parkinson’s disease and essential tremor. Earlier in her career, she was a clinical research physician with the Michael J. Fox Foundation, where she supported studies evaluating the use of telemedicine in Parkinson’s disease research and clinical care. More recently, she has served as PI and sub-investigator on virtual trials for Parkinson’s disease and essential tremor.
“Over the years, I’ve worked with many patients who wanted to participate in research and couldn’t, simply because the travel logistics associated with the study appointment schedule were too demanding,” said Dr. Kang. “Lightship’s model gives investigators the tools to remove this obstacle, which can open up research as a viable option for so many patients who would otherwise be unable to participate. From my experience working on trials that have used the virtual research model, I have witnessed how successful it is in terms of participant satisfaction and compliance without compromising study quality. I am incredibly enthusiastic about this opportunity to oversee neurology studies that can really benefit from the Lightship research model.”
What this means for sponsors
Dr. Kang’s appointment meets a growing need among sponsors and specialized investigators who can support neurology programs across multiple settings. As PI, she will oversee trials across Lightship’s full visit model, including in-clinic, at-home, and virtual settings. Her expertise in neurodegenerative disorders is particularly relevant for conditions such as Parkinson’s disease and Alzheimer’s disease for which the travel burden can be especially challenging for participants and their caregivers. Her licensure in 24 states broadens the geographic population that Lightship can reach through its virtual model, supporting enrollment, retention, and representation among participants who would be difficult to reach through a traditional single-site approach.
Dr. Kang’s appointment builds on recent investments in Lightship’s clinical and operational infrastructure, including the addition of Dr. Lindsay Van Pelt as Chief Medical Advisor and the relocation of Lightship’s headquarters to Research Triangle Park. These steps reinforce Lightship’s commitment to scaling specialized trial delivery with consistent medical oversight across every setting.
To learn more about Lightship’s neurology capabilities and flexible trial delivery model, including how to partner, visit https://lightship.com.
About Lightship Inc.
Lightship Inc. is a clinical trial site network committed to making research participation possible for all. We partner with biopharma and CROs to execute studies that expand reach and improve participant retention, delivering trials in clinic, at home, and in the community through one experienced team. Our investigators, nurses, and coordinators follow each participant across every setting—whether it’s a physical site, a home visit, a Mobile Research Unit, or virtually—operating under unified SOPs and integrating with the technology platforms sponsors already use. The result is faster enrollment, stronger retention, and broader representation, without the complexity of managing multiple vendors. At Lightship, we bring research to participants. For more information, visit https://lightship.com.
Media Contact for Lightship:
Brittany Kearns
Crossroads B2B Marketing on behalf of Lightship
571-271-7211