Scientific and Clinical Advisory Council
SafeMinds Scientific & Clinical Advisory Council is comprised of clinicians, health professionals, and scientists from a variety of disciplines, including, among others, specialists and experts in autism, environment, toxicology, pediatrics, neuroscience, pharmacology, and psychology.
José G. Dórea, Ph.D.
Professor of Nutritional Sciences, University of Brasília
A graduate of the University of Pernambuco with advanced degrees from the University of Massachusetts (MSc and PhD), Dr. Dorea has worked at Iowa State University (USA), University of Hawaii (USA), and University of Campinas (Brazil). He has authored numerous book chapters, and has published on infant nutrition and the environmental impact of toxic (natural and man made) substances on the growth and development of children. Dr. Dorea is on the editorial board of peer-reviewed scientific journals, and has authored and co-authored more than 180 papers in journals of public health, medical and environmental sciences, toxicology, and pharmacology.
Cindy Schneider, MD
Medical Director, Center for Autism Research and Education
Dr. Schneider is the Medical Director of CARE, the Center for Autism Research and Education. Her integrative medical practice is exclusively dedicated to individuals with autism and related neurological and immune disorders. Dr. Schneider’s areas of special interest include treatment of the immune, gastrointestinal, and metabolic aspects of autism and the identification of environmental toxins contributing to the autism epidemic. She has designed and implemented multiple research studies, and collaborated with researchers worldwide. Dr. Schneider’s priorities in both her medical practice and her research include the identification of the causes of autism, the formulation of effective treatment protocols, and the prevention of autism in future generations.
Dr. Schneider has served as a member of the Defeat Autism Now! think tank since 1997, and serves on the Clinician Advisory Committee at the Autism Research Institute. She was the founding president and medical director of two nonprofit organizations for autism research, and is a medical advisor for SafeMinds. Dr. Schneider has published extensively in the areas of genetic vulnerability to environmental toxins, and innovative treatments for the gastrointestinal and immune complications of autism.
As the mother of two children with autism and a leading authority in the field, Dr. Schneider closely tracks developments in autism research, and provides both a medical and personal assessment of current and promising treatment options.
Robert Sears, M.D.
Robert W. Sears, MD, FAAP, is a board-certified pediatrician in a full-time private practice in Dana Point, Calif. He received his medical degree from Georgetown University, and did his pediatric residency training at Childrens Hospital Los Angeles. “Dr. Bob,” as he likes to be called by his little patients, provides a unique blend of mainstream and integrative medical care. He is a co-author in the Sears Parenting Library, including The Baby Book and The Portable Pediatrician, and is the author of The Vaccine Book, The Autism Book, and HappyBaby: The Organic Guide to Baby’s First 24 Months. Dr. Bob has appeared on Dr. Oz, The Doctors, CNN, CBS Early Show, Fox Morning News, and Dr. Phil discussg parenting advice and pediatric health issues. He is a frequent speaker at parenting conferences, and serves on the medical advisory board for various organizations, including Talk About Curing Autism, Autism Care and Treatment Today, HappyBaby Organic Baby Food, and Kaplan University Department of Health Sciences. Dr. Bob is a contributor to AskDrSears.com, and regularly answers questions on his Mothering.com Ask the Experts forum.
Cerebral Lactate Levels Higher in Adults with Autism than Neurotypical Controls
Study Suggests that Lactate May Be a Potential Biomarker for Mitochondrial Dysfunction in High-Functioning Adults on the Spectrum New German research has investigated cerebral lactate (Lac+) levels in high-functioning adults with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) using Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy (MRS), targeting the posterior cingulate cortex (PCC) as a potential biomarker for mitochondrial dysfunction. The authors […]
New Research Claims Acetaminophen Use During Pregnancy Is Not Linked to ADHD or Autism Risk
Contradictory Results Challenge Previous Findings of Elevated Neurodevelopmental Risks in Children Exposed to Drug Prenatally A recent study published in JAMA challenges prior research linking acetaminophen (Tylenol) use during pregnancy to increased risks of autism and ADHD in children. By analyzing data from over 2 million Swedish children followed for up to 26 years, the […]
Children with Cerebral Palsy Face a Fivefold Increased Risk of ASD and a Double Risk of ADHD
New Research Suggests Links Are Due to Shared Early-Life Risk Factors Affecting Brain Development A recent nationwide study has revealed a significant link between cerebral palsy and an increased risk of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and attention/deficit-hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in children. Specifically, the research showed that children with cerebral palsy were found to have a […]
Research Finds Significantly More Chemicals in Baby Teeth of Children with ASD Compared to Neurotypical Children
Authors Propose Differences in Xenobiotic Metabolism as Cause of Chemical Variances Between Groups Another new study led by researchers from the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio has analyzed deciduous (baby) teeth from 22 ASD-diagnosed children and 20 typically developing children. Deciduous teeth act as significant indicators of chemical exposure during fetal […]
Thimerosal Exposure Linked to Neurological Impairments, Mitochondrial Dysfunction, Oxidative Stress, and Altered Neurotransmitter Levels
Injuries Caused by Exposure Can Lead to Long-Term Cognitive and Motor Deficits New research from Brazil has investigated the effects of thimerosal (TM), a mercury-containing compound used as a preservative or antiseptic in certain vaccines, skin test antigens, antivenins, ophthalmic and nasal products, and tattoo inks, on young Wistar rats, which were bred to be […]
GTF21 Gene Variations Could Be the Difference Between Having a “Cocktail Party Personality” and Struggling Socially
Recent Findings from a Stem Cell Study Could Lead to New Autism Treatments Researchers at the Sanford Stem Cell Institute, University of California San Diego, have gained insights into the social behaviors linked with Williams syndrome and its opposite genetic condition, 7q11.23 duplication syndrome, which may have implications for individuals with autism. Williams syndrome, characterized […]
