On April 27, 2024, prominent Kazakh scientist and Professor Zhaulaubai Kydyrbaev passed away. The Research Institute for Biological Safety Problems confirmed his death, according to infohub.kz.
Kydyrbaev worked at the institute for nearly 30 years, more than 15 of which he headed the Laboratory for Prevention of Infectious Diseases. He authored over 200 scientific papers, including 36 published in high-impact international journals. He also co-authored 37 inventions and 24 normative documents on vaccines.
According to the institute, he made significant contributions to virology, epizootology, pathological anatomy, and vaccine production against dangerous viral diseases in poultry and livestock in Kazakhstan, including against pandemic influenza A/H5N1 (Kazfluvac) and A/H1N1 (Refluvac), as well as seasonal flu (Kazfluvir) for the country's healthcare system. The vaccines successfully passed preclinical and clinical trials in Kazakhstan and Russia and were registered with the Ministry of Health of Kazakhstan. In recent years, he contributed to developing vector vaccines against brucellosis in cattle, small ruminants, and humans, among others.
Kydyrbaev was awarded the Order of Kurmet in 2019, the badge "For Merits in the Development of Science of Kazakhstan" from the Ministry of Education and Science, the medal "Yengbek Ardageri" in 2016, and was a laureate of the independent award "Leader of Science."