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.
Latest Research Shows Growing Out of ADHD is Unlikely
Earlier Estimates Showed 50% Remission in Adulthood, New Rate Indicates 10% ADHD is the most common childhood mental disorder. The newest estimates report that 9.6% of children ages 3 to 17 have been diagnosed with the condition. Until recently, ADHD was viewed as a condition that vanishes in about half of those who received diagnoses. […]
Microstructural Abnormalities Discovered in Autism Cases in the Orbitofrontal Cortex and Amygdala
New Research Utilized MRI Brain Scans The orbitofrontal cortex (OFC) is the part of the brain which is found at the very front that sits just above the orbits (eye sockets). It has extensive connections with the sensory system and is involved in multiple psychological functions, such as emotional and cognitive processing, learning, and social […]
One in 15 Men Carry Sperm Mutations Linked to Disease in Their Offspring
These Mutations May Potentially Cause 15% of ASD cases and Other Diseases Mosaicism is a condition in which a person has two or more genetically different sets of cells in their body. Every human experiences some level of mosaicism, but most of the time the condition is undetectable. However, when mosaicism occurs in sperm or […]
Sensorimotor Distinctions for People with Autism
Key Difference Exhibited in Rapid Processing Sensory Feedback Sensorimotor skills involve the process of receiving sensory messages (sensory input) and producing a response (motor output). This process is the basis of many abilities, everything from handwriting to zipping up a coat to language development. Sensorimotor skills have significant implications for education and independence over a […]
Relationship Between Environmental Factors for Children with Autism
Research from Cyprus Identifies Various Maternal and Neonatal Factors Linked to ASD Last month, SafeMinds Shares reported on nine new research papers that investigated environmental factors during prenatal and neonatal periods. These studies associated inflammation, oxidative stress, mitochondrial dysfunction, chlorpyrifos, lead, methylation problems, low vitamin D levels, and PFAS exposure as possible culprits for the […]
Transitioning Students with ASD Back to On-Campus Learning
UC Davis MIND Institute Experts Offer Advice for a Smooth Change Heading back to school this year is going to be unique for all students. But it will be especially unique for kids with autism, who are more likely to experience extra challenges while transitioning back to full-day classroom learning. To assist with this change […]
