When LAU trustee and pharmaceutical entrepreneur Moise A. Khayrallah began envisioning a pharmaceutical research center dedicated to developing and testing generic medications in Lebanon, his motivation was clear and urgent: Lebanon must build its own capacity to ensure safe, effective and affordable medicines for its people.

At the height of the pandemic and the economic, health and social crises in Lebanon, Dr. Khayrallah identified a pressing gap in the country’s healthcare system and turned to LAU to conceptualize his vision. In 2024, the first-ever Pharmaceutical and Medical Research Center (PMRC) in Lebanon was launched in response to a critical national need to test and develop high-quality generic medications.

On February 27, 2026, Dr. Khayrallah formalized this vision by signing a landmark gift agreement with the university to establish the “Dr. Moise Khayrallah Endowed Fund,” ensuring sustained support for the PMRC at LAU’s Byblos campus.

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.

A collaborative initiative that brings together LAU’s three health schools and industry partners, 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, hospital 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.