Silvia B.M.Barros was bom in São Paulo in 1950. She graduated from the School of Pharmaceutical Sciences of the University of São Paulo in 1972. She completed her MSc in Analytical Toxicology in 1976 and PhD in Toxicology in 1980 both at the University of São Paulo.

She served in several positions at the University of São Paulo including as Head of the Department of Clinical Chemistry and Toxicology during 1996-2000, vice-Dean of the School of Pharmaceutical Sciences during 2000-2003 and as Associate Vice-Rector Under-Graduate Studies from 1998 -2001. She is a professor of General Pathology at the Department of Clinical Chemistry and Toxicology where she has taught General Pathology and Toxicology for graduate and undergraduate students since 1974.

She published 62 scientific papers. She mentored 11 PhD students and 7 MSc students, and acted several times as a PhD thesis and MSC dissertation examiner. Silvia Barros leads several national funded research projects with a focus on oxidative stress mediated hepatotoxicity and toxicity and photoprotective activity of plant extracts.

Silvia Barros has been active in national and international scientific organizations. At the Brazilian Society of Toxicology she served as Secretary-General (1990-1991 and 2003-2004) and as President (1992-1993). She also served as a councilor at the International Society for the Study of Xenobiotics (1993-1995). She has been a member of ILSI-Brasil Scientific and Administrative Council since 2004. She is the editor in chief of the Brazilian Journal of Toxicology. She is currently member of the Executive Committee of the International Union of Toxicology as a Director and Chair of the Developing Countries Committee.