Worms and Germs: Why This University Researcher Believes that Understanding the Human Biome Can Help Our Kids
By Sallie Bernard, SafeMinds Co-Founder and President William Parker, Ph.D., an immunologist and associate professor at Duke University School of Medicine, spends his time studying the effects of worms—yes, worms—on rats’ and humans’ immune systems. His worms aren’t the brown kind that live in your garden, but special worms called helminths that might help […]
Announcing Our New Executive Director: Lisa Wiederlight
Dear Friends of SafeMinds, I am delighted to share some exciting news with you today. We have a new executive director here at SafeMinds, Lisa Wiederlight. Lisa brings tremendous energy, commitment, and passion in the fight to end the autism epidemic by promoting environmental research and effective treatment, as well as a wealth of experience […]
The Unexpected Way This Mom is Giving Thanks
By Heidi Roger, SafeMinds Board Member I’m sending one to that guy behind the pizza counter. The one who helped Andrew after he was mistakenly left on the school bus by himself and somehow managed to pry the bus door open and cross Main Street without getting hit by a car. The pizza man could […]
SafeMinds Funded Research Discovers that Increased Biome Diversity Produces Healthier, Smarter Immune System Responses
Allergy and Autoimmunity Decreases, Without Compromising Immune Response: Conventional wisdom in modern medicine has assumed that a necessary consequence of blocking allergies and autoimmune reactions is immune system suppression, which in turn causes patients to be more vulnerable to other infections and cancers. A new study published today in PLOS ONE by Duke University researchers, and funded in part by the Coalition of SafeMinds, found that increasing biodiversity in the body via biome enrichment, known to decrease allergies and autoimmune reactions, is not immune suppressive. This discovery holds great promise to treat autoimmune diseases successfully without compromising appropriate immune responses.
Five Ways to Really Help People with Autism
By Katie Weisman, SafeMinds Board Member So, it’s Autism Awareness Month again. Hmmm…. Facebook is abuzz with posts about autism awareness. Buildings are lighting up in blue to show support for autism, while Twitter is chirping with the hashtags #autism and #awareness. There are hundreds of events around the country celebrating that more and more […]
Safe Minds Require Safe Bodies: What You Can Do for Autism Awareness Month 2015
As I write this, it’s still rainy and cold outside of my window, but I can see tiny yellow buttercups and purple chicory flowers just starting to poke their way out of the frozen ground. Every April, SafeMinds’ board takes a moment to highlight the organization’s upcoming activities and projects. I’m sending you this email […]
