Dr Marta Shahbazi, who served as a group leader at the Medical Research Council Laboratory of Molecular Biology and held a post at the Cambridge Stem Cell Institute, was traveling to El Rompido when her train crashed near Urda. Her passing has drawn widespread tributes praising her pioneering work in molecular biology and developmental genetics. The incident marks the second high-speed rail crash to occur this year on the line connecting Madrid and Seville. Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez promised a thorough investigation into the fatal event.
Key points
The international scientific community has lost a prominent researcher renowned for groun…: The international scientific community has lost a prominent researcher renowned for groundbreaking work in developmental biology.
Spanish authorities have initiated a formal inquiry into the disaster, which marks the co…: Spanish authorities have initiated a formal inquiry into the disaster, which marks the country's second Madrid-Seville rail crash this year.
A period of three days of national mourning was officially declared in Spain following th…: A period of three days of national mourning was officially declared in Spain following the deadly collision.
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An “inspiring” University of Cambridge scientist died in the Spanish train collision on Wednesday which killed at least 69 people.
Dr Marta Shahbazi, an affiliate associate professor at the Cambridge Stem Cell Institute and a group leader at the city’s Medical Research Council Laboratory of Molecular Biology (LMB), was travelling on one of the trains involved in the crash near Urda in Toledo province.
The LMB said the mother of two had recently won the Spanish Society of Developmental Biology’s scientific excellence prize. She had been due to be presented with the award during its conference in El Rompido, Andalucía.
In a LinkedIn post, the LMB said it was deeply saddened by her death, which was “a profound shock and a huge loss”, adding: “Martha was an inspiring, talented and passionate scientist whose research shed light on the earliest steps in the development of human embryos and how errors occur that lead to failed pregnancies.”
It said she was a role model who had written eloquently about balancing her family and career, describing herself as a “mother scientist”.
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