Professor Lilian A. Ghandour, chair of the Department of Epidemiology and Population Health at the Faculty of Health Sciences (FHS), American University of Beirut (AUB), has been selected as a member of the World Health Organization (WHO) Technical Advisory Group on Alcohol and Drug Epidemiology (TAG-ADE) for a two-year term (eligible for renewal).
TAG-ADE brings together 18 global experts recognized for their technical expertise, experience in global and national policy work, effective communication skills, and ability to collaborate across diverse cultural settings. The group will advise and support the WHO Secretariat on the epidemiology of alcohol and drug use and their related health consequences. TAG-ADE functions include evaluating the scientific, technical, and strategic elements of WHO's work in this area; setting priorities for international research; guiding WHO's monitoring systems; and reviewing and advising on key WHO publications and normative documents.
Dr. Ghandour is internationally recognized for her work in substance use and mental health epidemiology. She has over two decades of experience conducting and publishing impactful and award-winning research, focused particularly on youth alcohol and drug use. Her research, combining qualitative and quantitative approaches, has contributed to advancing knowledge and informing policy in the region and globally.
Professor Ghandour has frequently been invited to serve as a technical consultant/expert advisor to WHO and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) contributing to global research agendas, assessment tools, scientific manuals, prevention standards, and national strategies. Her appointment to TAG-ADE reflects her international prominence and commitment to integrating research, policy, and practice.
This prestigious appointment coincides with Dr. Ghandour's recent promotion to full professor with tenure at AUB—an honor that recognizes her outstanding and sustained contributions to research, teaching, and service.