Cambridge scientist Marta Shahbazi among 69 killed in Spanish train crash

Dr Marta Shahbazi, a Cambridge scientist known for research into early human development, was among at least 69 people killed in a train collision in Spain, according to the BBC and The Guardian. Shahbazi, 41, was travelling to a conference where she was due to receive an award for scientific excellence. The crash occurred near Urda in Toledo province when a state-operated Renfe high-speed train struck the rear of a stationary train operated by Iryo.

The BBC reported that more than 540 people were travelling on the two trains. The reports describe the disaster as one of Europe’s worst modern rail accidents and Spain’s deadliest crash since 2013. Shahbazi was an affiliate associate professor at the University of Cambridge’s Stem Cell Institute and led a research group at the MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology in Cambridge.

She had joined the laboratory in 2020 after completing her PhD at Spain’s National Cancer Research Centre and working as a postdoctoral researcher at Cambridge. Her award was announced by the Spanish Society of Developmental Biology. She was due to collect it at a conference in El Rompido, in Andalucía, for contributions to understanding the earliest stages of human development and the cellular errors that can lead to failed pregnancies.

The LMB described her as an “inspiring, talented and passionate scientist” and said her death was “a profound shock and a huge loss”. The institute also highlighted her work on balancing research with family life. Shahbazi was a mother of two and had described herself as a “mother scientist”.

Cambridge Stem Cell Institute director Bertie Gottgens said the institute’s community was shocked and deeply saddened. He praised Shahbazi’s pioneering research, creativity, passion, generosity and collaborative spirit. The Guardian also reported tributes from Roser Vento-Tormo of the Wellcome Sanger Institute, who described Shahbazi as a close collaborator, friend and inspiration.

The research community in Spain also mourned her death. The Center for Research in Molecular Medicine and Chronic Diseases in Santiago de Compostela called her a brilliant young researcher. The centre was the first to confirm the news in a social-media post, according to the BBC.

Spain declared three days of national mourning from Thursday. Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez described the crash as a tragedy and promised an investigation. The supplied reports do not provide findings about the cause of the collision or identify further victims.