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.
Meta-Analysis Shows Significant Relationship Between Mercury and Autism
Copper and Lead Also Analyzed But No Correlation Found A recent meta-analysis published in Pediatric Health, Medicine and Therapeutics investigated the possible role that concentrations of copper, lead and mercury may play in development of autism. The study analyzed 18 articles in which concentration samples of blood, hair and nails of 1797 patients aged 2 […]
Cow’s Milk Allergy May Be Overdiagnosed and Undermining Breastfeeding
Guidelines to Manage Allergy Written by Individuals Receiving Funds from Formula Manufacturers Dairy allergies have long been associated with autism. Now, a new study published in JAMA Pediatrics shows that cow’s milk allergy (CMA) may be overdiagnosed in many infants. Using a food challenge protocol, this novel study found that only 1% of infants were […]
10 Tips to Manage Challenges of Mask Wearing
Face Masks Can be Agony for Kids with Sensory Issues As the Coronavirus pandemic continues, there will be times when mask wearing in public may become necessary. Mask wearing is uncomfortable for almost everyone, but adding autism and sensory defensiveness into the mix, this public health requirement can become downright miserable. Below are a few […]
Telehealth Proves Helpful For Parents Learning About ASD Behavioral Therapy
Study Shows Improvements in Parents’ Ability to Manage Challenging Conduct Not everything associated with the coronavirus pandemic and autism has turned out to have a negative consequence. A good example of this phenomenon is a Rutgers University study recently published in The Journal of Applied Behavioral Analysis. The study showed that telehealth sessions, used out […]
Early Introduction of High-Dose Gluten Could Prevent Celiac Disease
New Study at Odds with Previous Research The latest analysis from the Enquiring About Tolerance (EAT) infant food prevention trial demonstrated that very early exposure of high-dose gluten was linked to lower prevalence of celiac disease in 3 year-old children. Celiac disease is occasionally associated with autism. Earlier trials by EAT showed little or no […]
Study Suggests Breastfeeding Protective Against Developing Autism
High Risk Families Should Possibly Consider Nourishing by Breast vs. Bottle In Lebanon, where breastfeeding is declining and autism spectrum disorders (ASD) are increasing, new research has come out which points to more evidence demonstrating that breastfeeding provides a protective effect against the development of autism. This research recruited 46 children under the age of […]
