The Lebanese American University (LAU) has signed a gift agreement with Dr. Moise Khayrallah, a distinguished philanthropist, who has committed to a transformative donation in support of the LAU Pharmaceutical and Medical Research Center (PMRC) at the Byblos campus. The center is the first of its kind in Lebanon and reflects the university’s commitment to the country’s academic and scientific advancement.
In a statement, LAU Board of Trustees Chair Mike Ahmar thanked Dr. Khayrallah for his generosity, describing him “not only as an exceptional leader and visionary, but also a dear friend whose love for Lebanon has guided his entire life’s work.”
The signing ceremony took place at LAU’s Byblos campus in the presence of LAU President Chaouki T. Abdallah, alongside Dr. Moise Khayrallah and Angela Khoury, LAU Trustees Tony Frem and Sheikh Walid Katibah, vice presidents, deans, faculty, staff, and friends of the university.
The president 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, noting how through the PMRC, LAU is advancing five key commitments.
First, to elevate pharmaceutical research and innovation in Lebanon to international standards. Second, to strengthen collaboration among academia, industry and the government, ensuring that research translates into policies, manufacturing quality, and better patient outcomes.
Third, to contribute to a national pharmacovigilance, regulatory science and evidence-based health policy. Fourth, to train the next generation of scientists, pharmacists, and researchers who will lead Lebanon’s healthcare sector, and fifth, to position LAU as a regional hub for pharmaceutical and medical research excellence.
“This gift reflects a rare kind of commitment—the kind rooted not in obligation, but in love for a country and belief in its future,” said Vice President for Advancement Juhi Dagli. “Dr. Khayrallah’s vision for the PMRC, and his decision to endow its work,” she added, “will strengthen Lebanon’s scientific capacity for generations to come. It is a profound way to open the quiet phase of our campaign and a powerful testament to the leadership and resolve of our Board of Trustees.”
Dr. Abdallah added that while the center provides infrastructure, it ultimately represents capability: laboratories that generate data, faculty who publish and innovate, students who discover and build, and partnerships that extend beyond campus walls. He stressed that investing in scientific research is an investment in Lebanon’s most valuable resource: its people. He concluded by noting that “Dr. Khayrallah’s gift presents both a challenge and a powerful incentive to ensure that the Dr. Moise Khayrallah Pharmaceutical and Research Center becomes synonymous with precision, integrity, and global relevance.”
In his remarks, Dr. Khayrallah said that education has been the foundation of his life, recalling that his father insisted on his education—a source of great pride for him—because for him it represents “the foundation for our lives and the progress of our country, and research is the vehicle to education.”
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.
It is worth noting that LAU launched the PMRC in 2024 as the country’s first bioequivalence center, with the aim of advancing pharmaceutical research by testing and developing generic medications with the same active ingredients and efficacy as their original brand names.