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.
Can an Autism Hug Machine Help Control Challenging Behaviors of Children on the Spectrum?
Recent Study Suggests Deep Pressure Provided by One Type of Device Can Be Calming Deep pressure has been widely used by occupational therapists who work with children with autism spectrum disorders (ASD). The deep pressure sensation is thought to regulate the sensory system, reducing the symptoms of stress and anxiety of individuals on the spectrum. […]
Methylmercury Chloride Exposure Deteriorates Behaviors and Impacts the Immune System
Mouse Model Study Shows Increased Production of Proinflammatory Cytokines after Exposure New research from Saudi Arabia has investigated the effects of methylmercury chloride (MeHgCl) exposure on BTBR mice. BTBR mice are an inbred mouse strain that exhibit core symptoms of autism-like behaviors. The authors of this new study hypothesized that MeHgCl exposure could be associated […]
Eye Gazing in ASD: Indifference or Avoidance?
New Review Examines the Theory of Hypoactive vs. Hyperactive Amygdala A tendency to avoid eye contact is often an early indicator of autism in young children. Difficulties with eye contact frequently continue through the lifespan, creating challenges for social interactions for people on the spectrum. A new review published in the Journal of Autism and […]
Exposure to Chemicals During Pregnancy Affects Developing Fetus
New Study Shows the More Chemicals, the Fewer Words Giuseppe Testa, a professor of molecular biology at the Universita Statale in Milan, Italy recently tweeted a fascinating conversation about his newest study which examines the effects of exposure to endocrine disrupting chemicals during pregnancy on a child’s language development. Additionally, Professor Testa and his co-authors […]
Genomically Targeted Interventions May Lead to Meaningful Improvements in ASD
Understanding the Molecular Mechanisms of a Gene Could Be Key For New Treatments As often recognized in autism research, there are currently no pharmacological treatments approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to treat the core symptoms of the disorder. Given this sobering fact, new research from an international team of scientists that focuses […]
Differences Discovered Between Brains of Girls and Boys with ASD
Gender-Specific Autism Diagnostics May Be Needed According to a new Stanford study, girls with autism differ in several brain centers compared to boys with the disorder. These differences were discovered by analyzing hundreds of brain scans using artificial intelligence techniques. The Stanford researchers found that girls had different patterns of connectivity than boys did in […]
