An award-winning researcher from the University of Cambridge was among 69 people killed in a major rail collision in Spain, where she was traveling to receive a national science award.
Dr. Marta Shahbazi, a mother of two who led a research group at the MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology (LMB) in Cambridge, died on Wednesday when the train she was aboard crashed into another near Urda, located south of Madrid, as reported by BBC News.
Tributes to a Pioneering Molecular Biologist
Shahbazi was en route to an academic conference in El Rompido, Andalusia, to collect a prize from the Spanish Society for Developmental Biology for her contributions to early human development research. In addition to her role at the LMB, she served as an affiliate associate professor and affiliate principal investigator at the University of Cambridge’s Stem Cell Institute (CSCI).
The LMB described her death as a profound shock and loss, remembering her as a dedicated researcher whose work illuminated the earliest stages of human embryo development and the biological factors behind pregnancy failures. The laboratory also noted her commitment to balancing her career and family, noting that she often described herself as a “mother scientist.”
Prof. Bertie Gottgens, director of the CSCI, expressed deep sadness on behalf of the institute, emphasizing that Shahbazi was widely respected across both organizations for her pioneering scientific work, creativity, and collaborative spirit.
Career Background and Railway Accident Details
Shahbazi earned her PhD at the Spanish National Cancer Research Centre before taking up a postdoctoral fellowship at the University of Cambridge, later joining the LMB as a group leader in 2020. Her death was initially confirmed in a social media announcement by CiMUS, a research institute in Santiago de Compostela where her aunt works.
The incident occurred when a high-speed train operated by Spain’s state railway company Renfe struck the rear of a stationary train operated by Iryo. More than 540 passengers were on board the two services combined.
The collision represents one of the deadliest rail disasters in modern European history and Spain’s most severe train crash since 2013. In response to the tragedy, Spanish officials declared three days of national mourning.
