On February 27, 2026, LAU trustee and pharmaceutical entrepreneur Moise Khayrallah signed a landmark gift agreement with the university in support of the LAU Pharmaceutical and Medical Research Center (PMRC) at the Byblos campus. The center was launched in 2024 in response to a critical national need to test and develop high-quality generic medications, as a multifaceted crisis posed a threat to Lebanon’s healthcare system. 

Announcing that the PMRC will be named the “Dr. Moise Khayrallah Pharmaceutical and Medical Research Center,” LAU President Chaouki T. Abdallah spoke of Dr. Khayrallah’s “belief in Lebanon, in the research mission and in that mission’s power to change lives and build institutions that endure.”

LAU Board of Trustees Chair Mike Ahmar hailed Dr. Khayrallah’s “remarkable generosity as a profoundly special moment for me—both personally and as Chairman of the Board. Moise is not only an exceptional leader and visionary, but also a dear friend whose love for Lebanon has guided his entire life’s work.”

Reflecting on the moment he had invited him to join the LAU Board of Trustees, Mr. Ahmar said that “it was because I knew he possessed a spirit of service, integrity, and purpose that would elevate this institution. Today, he has done so once again.”

“Dr. Khayrallah’s vision, realized through this seminal gift, will strengthen Lebanon’s scientific capacity for generations,” said Vice President for Advancement Juhi Dagli.  “As we enter the silent phase of LAU’s next capital campaign,” she added, “his commitment reminds us that an investment in LAU is an investment in Lebanon.”

LAU Trustee and Capital Campaign Co-Chair Philip Stoltzfus noted that “Moise’s generous gift in support of LAU’s PMRC is an example of how the alignment between the philanthropic goals of our friends with the mission of the University results in transformative outcomes for Lebanon and the region.” Partnerships with LAU friends, supporters, and stakeholders, he added, are fundamental to the success of the Capital Campaign, “and we are profoundly grateful to Moise for his leadership as we get the campaign underway.”

At the signing ceremony, President Abdallah further affirmed that universities must serve as engines of national development. “The pharmaceutical and medical research ecosystem is critical to Lebanon’s health security, economic resilience and scientific reputation,” he said.

Through the center, he added, LAU is advancing five key commitments: Elevating pharmaceutical research and innovation to international standards; strengthening collaboration among academia, industry and the government; contributing to national pharmacovigilance; training the next generation of scientists, pharmacists and researchers; and positioning LAU as a regional hub for pharmaceutical and medical research excellence. 

The gift directly aligns philanthropy with national need, pairing long-term financial commitment with a strategic vision for Lebanon’s scientific and healthcare infrastructure. By endowing the PMRC’s work, Dr. Khayrallah has ensured that research, training, and innovation in pharmaceutical sciences will continue uninterrupted for generations to come.

The center’s mission strengthens local pharmaceutical manufacturing, reduces dependence on imported drugs and helps make treatments more affordable for patients across Lebanon and the region.

More than 20 years ago, the first study on bioequivalence was conducted by LAU School of Pharmacy faculty, Dr. Mohammad Mroueh and Dr. Soula Kyriacos, igniting the passion to fulfill this mission.

In 2022, a steering committee was formed to help realize the center, under the leadership of former LAU President Michel E. Mawad and Provost George E. Nasr. The steering committee is currently co-chaired by Vice President for Business Development and Global Affairs Elie Badr and Executive Vice President for Health Services Zeina Khouri-Stevens, and includes Dr. Khayrallah, Dean of the School of Pharmacy Naser Alsharif, Dean of the Gilbert and Rose-Marie Chagoury School of Medicine Sola Aoun Bahous, Executive Director of the PMRC Sam Haidar, Professor Mohammad Mroueh, Associate Professor of Pharmacy Aline Milane, and Assistant Vice President for Facilities Management Georges Hamouche.

The PMRC also serves as a hub for experiential education and advanced research. Through this gift, PhD fellows, graduate students, and postdoctoral researchers supported by the fund will be designated as Dr. Moise Khayrallah Fellows—an enduring investment in Lebanon’s next generation of scientific leaders.

In recognition of his visionary support, the PMRC and the building that houses it will bear Dr. Khayrallah’s name, as will symposia, workshops, and lecture series organized by LAU’s health schools.

Adding to LAU’s research capacity, said Dr. Khayrallah, “will further strengthen its potential and scientific presence, as the center will serve as a solid foundation for further advancement in medical and pharmaceutical research, and we will see more studies and scientific work that will support Lebanon’s biopharmaceutical industry.”

He added, “Research in the pharmaceutical sector formed the basis of my professional life for the past 40 years, and I am pleased to dedicate all of this in service to my country. This is a moment of pride and humility for me.”

With over 35 years of experience in executive and research and development roles across major pharmaceutical, contract research, and biotechnology companies, Dr. Khayrallah brings deep technical expertise to this endeavor. As CEO of Emergo Therapeutics, he has shaped drug development at the highest levels, though his focus remains on Lebanon. He is a longstanding champion of LAU, and has taken the time to impart his extensive knowledge and advice to LAU students at seminars and graduation ceremonies. Dr. Khayrallah also serves as Lebanon’s Honorary Consul in North Carolina and founded the Moise A. Khayrallah Center for Lebanese Diaspora Studies at the North Carolina State University’s College of Humanities and Social Sciences.

The signing ceremony was attended by representatives of the Health Orders of physicians, pharmacists, and nurses, hospitals’ CEOs, ministers, and members of the university community—an acknowledgment that Dr. Khayrallah’s philanthropy extends beyond a university milestone to secure a brighter future for healthcare in Lebanon and beyond.