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.
Premature Birth and Autism Strongly Connected
“Dose Response” Relationship Identified by Large Swedish Study Over 40 years of Swedish birth and health data has demonstrated a strong correlation between autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and premature delivery, according to a new analysis published in Pediatrics. This national cohort study used records from all 4,061,795 singleton infants born in Sweden between 1973-2013, who […]
Puppets Shown to Attract and Hold the Attention of Kids with Autism
Yale Study Suggests Using Puppets as a Social Therapy Tool Difficulties with making eye contact and keeping attention with social partners is one of the early hallmarks of autism spectrum disorder (ASD). New research from the Yale Child Study Center set out to address these common problems for young children on the spectrum. The center […]
Autistic Traits Associated with Phthalate Exposures at Susceptible Developmental Times
Boys Showed a Stronger Link Between Exposures and Autism Symptoms Than Girls A new South Korean study has concluded that there are susceptible developmental periods of time that phthalate exposure can be linked with autistic traits. Specifically, the study’s authors found that exposure to phthalates during pregnancy is associated with autistic traits in young children […]
Newly Approved Pediatric Prolonged-Release Melatonin Shows Success for Treating ASD Related Insomnia
Benefits Include Increased Sleep Time, Reduced Sleep Latency, & Improved Sleep Continuity Approximately half of the individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), including children, experience sleep disorders. Adequate sleep plays a critical role in the neurological, psychological, and physical development of children and adolescents. Sleep deficits have been associated with hyperactivity-impulsivity, poor cognitive performance, and […]
More Funds Allocated to Support Healthy Weight Research for Children with Autism
Less Physical Activity, Food Selectivity, and Poor Sleep Can Contribute to Weight Issues The rise in childhood obesity rates has been in the national spotlight for the past two decades. Despite the increased focus on this topic, limited attention has been paid to the unique risk factors and effects experienced by children with autism spectrum […]
Doctors with ASD Want to Reframe How Neurodevelopmental Conditions Are Viewed
Instead of Viewing as a Disorder, Difference and Diversity is Preferred A letter written by Autistic Doctors International suggests changing how autism is viewed in both clinical and academic settings. The group, made up of 300 doctors on the spectrum, was assembled to focus on autism advocacy, support, and research. Their recent letter, published in […]
