Cambridge researcher killed in Spain: Train crash claims prize winner

Dr. Marta Shahbazi, a leading researcher at the University of Cambridge, died in a train collision in Spain on Wednesday. The crash occurred as she was traveling to collect a prize for her scientific work. The accident killed 69 people.

The MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology (LMB) in Cambridge confirmed the death of the affiliate associate professor. She led a research group focused on human embryos and cell biology. The institute called her death a profound shock and a huge loss.

Shahbazi had been named the winner of a Spanish Society for Developmental Biology award. She was en route to a conference in El Rompido, Andalusia, to accept the honor. The award recognized her contributions to the study of early human development.

The collision involved a state-operated Renfe high-speed train and a stationary Iryo train. The impact happened near Urda, south of Madrid. More than 540 people were aboard the two trains. It marks Spain's worst rail disaster since 2013.

The LMB noted that Shahbazi described herself as a mother scientist. She had two young children and wrote about balancing family life with her career. Her work examined how errors in early embryo development lead to failed pregnancies.

Prof. Bertie Gottgens, director of the Cambridge Stem Cell Institute, stated that the community was shocked and deeply saddened. He noted that Shahbazi served as a principal investigator at the institute alongside her LMB role. He praised her collaborative spirit and pioneering research.

The news of her death was first confirmed by CiMUS in Santiago de Compostela, where her aunt works. Shahbazi completed her PhD at the Spanish National Cancer Research Centre. She joined Cambridge as a post-doctoral fellow before moving to the LMB in 2020. Spain has declared three days of national mourning.