has not appeared. Three submitted Alibekov patent applications for registration were rejected by the National Institute of Intellectual Property of the Ministry of Justice of the Republic of Kazakhstan since there was no novelty. After Kazakhstan realized that, under the guise of super-progressive technologies, Alibekov was promoting long-known foreign methods, and Alibek was not a qualified specialist in oncology, medicine, or science, he terminated the contract and returned to the U.S. In 2016, Alibek was chosen as one of the nominees in the "Science" category of the national project El Tulgasy, which was designed to select the most significant citizens of Kazakhstan who are associated with national achievements. More than 350,000 people voted in this project, and Alibek was voted 10th place in his category. Autism research Starting in 2007, Alibek began researching autism. He supports the idea that the disorder is the result of prenatal viral and bacterial infections. Despite the lack of formal physician experience, a legal physician license to practice medicine, and professional qualification to work with autistic children as either a scientist or physician, Alibek considers himself a scientist and a doctor and treats autistic children using antiviral, antibacterial, and immunomodulatory approaches. His patients are located predominantly in nations in the former Soviet Union, and he consults mainly using free telemedicine services. Although Alibek claims to treat autism, there is no objectively evaluated and published data on the effectiveness of his approach. Criticism In a September 2003 news release, Alibek and another professor suggested, based on their laboratory research, that the smallpox vaccination might increase a person's resistance to HIV. The work was rejected after peer review by the Journal of the American Medical Association and The Lancet and is no longer being pursued. According to smallpox expert and former White House science advisor Donald Henderson, "This is a theory that... does not hold up at all, and it does not make any sense from a biologic point of view...This idea...was straight off the wall. I would put no credence in it at all." In 2010, an article coauthored by Alibek appeared in Biomed Central - Immunology,, a scientific journal, that outlined the results of their research showing that prior immunization with the vaccine Dryvax may confer resistance to HIV replication. Alibek also has promoted "Dr. Ken Alibek's Immune System Support Formula," a dietary supplement sold over the Internet. It contains vitamins, minerals, and a proprietary