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.
Gender Dysphoria Found in 5.7% of Children with Autism
Condition is Becoming So Common that the Term “Autigender” was Created Data collected by Autism Parenting Magazine shows that 5.7% of children on the spectrum exhibit symptoms of gender dysphoria. The magazine calculated this rate by sending a survey to more than 160,000 of their email subscribers around the world. Approximately three-quarters of the respondents […]
Autism Impacts the Brain’s White Matter in Adolescents and Young Adults
Region Most Affected Facilitates Communication Between the Brain’s Two Hemispheres Researchers from Yale University are attempting to find neuroimaging biomarkers for autism, which could potentially help children with the disorder receive a diagnosis and treatment earlier. In order to reach this goal, the research team embarked on a study which used a special type of […]
CDC Reports: 1 in 44 American Children Have Autism
California Surpasses New Jersey for Highest Rates, with 6.4% of the State’s Boys Holding a Diagnosis The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) released its latest prevalence estimates for autism. The center reports that 1 in 44 or 2.27% of American 8-year-olds have an autism spectrum disorder (ASD). This rate is a 23% increase […]
Catatonia Associated with Late Regression in Autism
Mean Onset Age of Late Regression is 13 years According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, approximately 25% of cases of autism are due to early regression. This phenomenon, often referred to as regressive autism, occurs when symptoms of autism materialize after a period of normal development, typically between 18-24 months of age. Most parents […]
Extensive Psilocybin Trial Shows Great Promise for Treating Serious Depression
Although Small Number Serious Adverse Events Were Reported SafeMinds Shares has reported previously on psilocybin, a hallucinogenic/psychedelic substance that works by activating serotonin receptors in the prefrontal cortex, the area of the brain that affects mood, cognition, and perception. Early trials have shown that the psychedelic holds promise as an autism treatment since it supports […]
Study Claims Microbiome Not a Causal Factor in Autism Spectrum Disorder
Research Suggests that Picky Eating Causes Differences in Gut Bacteria A bold new Australian study asserts that gut health “is no way a cause of why the brain develops differently” in individuals with autism. The researchers involved in this effort claim that previous studies linking microbiome contents to autism have been underpowered and not designed […]
