Zarifboy Ibodullayev is a professor at the Department of "Neurology, Medical Psychology, and Psychotherapy" at the Tashkent Medical Academy, Doctor of Medical Sciences. He was born on January 19, 1965, in a teacher's family in the Khazorasp district of the Khorezm region. In 1988, Z. Ibodullayev graduated from the Faculty of Medicine of the Tashkent State Medical Institute with a degree in "Medical Treatment" and, on the recommendation of academician Nabi Majidov, was retained as a young specialist at the Department of "Neurology."
In 1989, Zarifboy Ibodullayev was appointed head of the educational and scientific laboratory of the "Neurology" department at the Tashkent State Medical Institute. In 1991, he was accepted as an assistant at the Department of "Neurology" at the 2nd Tashkent State Medical Institute. In 1994, under the scientific supervision of Professor M.M. Asadullayev, he defended his Ph.D. thesis in the specialty 14.00.13 – "Neurology" on the topic "Clinical and neurophysiological features of cerebrovascular diseases in diabetes."
In 1995, Z. Ibodullayev was appointed as an associate professor at the Department of "Neurology" at the Tashkent State Medical Institute. In 1997, at the initiative of Rector H.Yo. Karimov, the "Medical Psychology" course was established, and on the recommendation of Professor M.M. Asadullayev, Associate Professor Z.R. Ibodullayev was appointed head of this course.
Until 1997, he emphasized the need to revise the topics of medical psychology, which closely resembled psychiatry subjects. This proposal was approved by the institute's administration, particularly by Rector H.Yo. Karimov. Z. Ibodullayev adapted the teaching of "Medical Psychology" in Uzbekistan to European academic programs, placing particular emphasis on "Psychosomatic Medicine." For the first time in Uzbekistan, Freud’s theory and psychoanalysis were introduced into medical education.
Since 2000, the "Medical Psychology" course has been part of the newly established Department of "Neurology, Medical Psychology, and Medical Genetics." In 2005, Z. Ibodullayev defended his doctoral dissertation in the specialty 14.00.13 – "Neurology" on the topic "Functional Interhemispheric Asymmetry and Neuropsychological Syndromes in Cerebral Strokes and Their Correction Methods." This research was the first doctoral dissertation in neuropsychology in Uzbekistan.
Two major scientific concepts proposed by Z. Ibodullayev in 2002—the stroke model in ambidextrous individuals and the concept of psychological defense of the brain—gained significant interest among foreign scientists, including I.M. Tonkonogiy (USA), H. Schonle (Germany), and E.D. Khomskaya (Russia). I.M. Tonkonogiy, who has been residing in the USA since 1979, invited Z. Ibodullayev to his research center to conduct joint research on ambidexterity. However, his mentor, E.D. Khomskaya, advised him, "Do not accept this offer; continue your work in Tashkent."
In 2005, the 1st and 2nd Tashkent State Medical Institutes were merged to form the Tashkent Medical Academy (TMA). That same year, upon the recommendation of Rector and Academician Sh.I. Karimov, Z. Ibodullayev was appointed Head of the Scientific Department of the academy. The scientist proposed opening master's and clinical residency programs in "Medical Psychology" at major medical institutions in Uzbekistan. Rector Sh.I. Karimov fully supported this proposal and recommended a thorough study of international experience, the preparation of a textbook, and the development of a State Educational Standard (SES) adapted to Uzbekistan.
In 2008, Z. Ibodullayev published the first "Medical Psychology" textbook in Uzbekistan, which won the "Best Textbook of the Year" award in 2009. Between 2008 and 2010, he developed the SES for the master's program in "Medical Psychology," which underwent multiple expert evaluations by specialists from the Ministry of Higher Education before being officially approved. Based on this SES, the academic curriculum for the discipline was prepared.
During 2011-2012, master's and clinical residency programs in "Medical Psychology" were launched at the Tashkent Pediatric Medical Institute and the Tashkent Medical Academy. Z. Ibodullayev was appointed director of the master's program in "Medical Psychology," marking the beginning of formal training for "Medical Psychologists" in Uzbekistan.
The second and third editions of the "Medical Psychology" textbook, originally published in 2008, were released in 2012 and 2019, respectively. Having started his career in neurology and later expanded into neuropsychology, the scientist has also published textbooks and study guides on neurological disorders. The "Neurology" textbook was published in both Cyrillic and Latin scripts in 2013 and 2014, receiving the "Best Textbook of the Year" award. In 2021, his "General Neurology" textbook was published.
Zarifboy Ibodullayev's popular science book, "Nervous System and Mental Health," which has been published five times in Uzbekistan, was released in Turkey in 2022 under the title "Sinir ve Ruhiyat." In December of that year, the book was presented at the Health Sciences University in Turkey, where the scientist was invited to deliver lectures on neuropsychology and engage in collaborative research. In 2023, a second edition of the "Neurology" textbook was published.
In 2023 and 2024, Z. Ibodullayev led young neuropsychologists and medical psychologists to the French Higher Institute of Psychomotor Rehabilitation for professional training in "Psychomotor Therapy and Rehabilitation." He delivered three lectures on "Neuropsychological Syndromes" at this institute. His contributions to fostering collaboration between Uzbekistan and France in training "Psychomotor Therapists" were highly regarded, and he was awarded the title of Honorary Professor of the French Higher Institute of Psychomotor Rehabilitation.
Professor Zarifboy Ibodullayev is the author of over 200 scientific works. Under his supervision, dissertations in neurology, neuropsychology, and medical psychology have been completed and are currently in progress. His major publications include "Neurology" (2013, 2014, 2023), "General Neurology" (2021), "Medical Psychology" (2008, 2012, 2019), and professional guides for neurologists such as "Stroke and Coma" (2014), "Epilepsy" (2018), and "Neurology" (2017). In 2025, his new textbook, "Clinical Psychology," will be published.
In January 2025, under the initiative of Professor Z. Ibodullayev, an international conference titled "Current Issues in Neuropsychology and Clinical Psychology in Uzbekistan" will be held in Tashkent. Experts from France, Germany, and Turkey will attend the conference. At this event, Z. Ibodullayev will advocate for the urgent need to establish formal training programs for "Clinical Psychologists" in Uzbekistan, a proposal that will receive full support from the Ministry of Health.