Scientific and Clinical Advisory Council

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.

October 03, 2022

Two New Studies Show Early Aluminum Adjuvant Exposures Could Be Linked to Chronic Health Conditions

One Review Investigates Aluminum’s Tie to Neurodevelopmental Disorders; the Other Investigates Its Relationship to Asthma  An international team of researchers recently released a review that examined the relationship between neurodevelopmental disorders (NDDs) such as autism spectrum disorder (ASD), schizophrenia, and bipolar disorder with early life exposures to aluminum-based adjuvants (ABAs). The review investigated the current […]

October 03, 2022

Cannabis-Based Medicinal Products Reported to Improve General Health-Related Quality of Life for Adults with ASD

Treatment Found Beneficial for Managing Anxiety Levels and Aiding Sleep Disturbances For years, cannabis-based medicinal products (CBMPs) have been considered promising treatments for managing symptoms and comorbidities related to autism spectrum disorder (ASD). However, there has been very little evidence to back up this claim. For the first time, a team of British scientists assessed […]

September 26, 2022

Low Levels of Glyphosate Shown to Increase Seizure-Like Behavior in Animals

Researchers Concerned About Lack of Knowledge Regarding Impact of Herbicide on the Human Nervous System A recent study by Florida Atlantic University and Nova Southeastern University has linked the use of the weed killer Roundup to convulsions in animals. Glyphosate is the herbicide component contained in Roundup, the world’s most commonly used weed killer. Nearly […]

September 19, 2022

Maternal Infections During Pregnancy Associated with Autism and Intellectual Disability in Offspring

Although, Researchers Maintain the Association Is Not Causal The Karolinska Institutet in Stockholm recently released a study that found that maternal infection during pregnancy is associated with autism and intellectual disability in offspring. However, this association does not appear to be causal. The team behind this work analyzed data from children living in Stockholm born […]

September 19, 2022

Paternal Age-Associated Genetic and Epigenetic Changes and Neurodevelopmental Disorders

Chemical Exposures and Lifestyle Factors May Affect the Normal Process of Epigenetic Aging of Sperm Delayed parenthood is a common feature of many developed countries. Unfortunately, this delay comes with consequences. Older couples in the pursuit of having biological children are generally less fertile, and often there are concerns about the health and development of […]

September 19, 2022

High-Functioning Children with ASD in Public Schools Are More Likely to Be Bullied

New Study Examines Neurodevelopmental Disorders and the Risk of Bullying Exposure Children with a diagnosis of neurodevelopmental disorder (NDD) are more often bullied than neurotypical children. Exposure to bullying can cause both emotional and behavioral challenges. The aim of a newly published study was to understand which factors may modify the relationship between NDDs and […]

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