University of Cambridge scientist died in Spain train crash

A “talented and passionate” University of Cambridge researcher was killed in the deadly Spanish train crash that has killed at least 69 people.Dr Marta Shahbazi, a scientist at the MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology (LMB) in Cambridge, was on a train that collided with another near the town of Urda in central Spain on Wednesday.A mother to two young children had been travelling to collect a prize for scientific excellence.Dr Shahbazi carried out research into the early stages of human embryo development, according to the UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) agency, which the LMB is a part of.Dr Shahbazi “wrote eloquently about balancing her family and career”, the UKRI said, “serving as a much-admired role model for a ‘mother scientist’, a term she used to describe herself”.She had been due to receive the scientific excellence prize from the Spanish Society of Developmental Biology at a conference which began on the day of the crash.The LMB has paid tribute to the “inspiring” scientist, who was a group leader in its Cell Biology Division and an affiliate associate professor at the University of Cambridge.Dr Shahbazi is listed on the university’s website as a principal investigator at its Stem Cell Institute.The laboratory said: “The LMB is deeply saddened by the tragic death of our colleague Marta Shahbazi, group leader in the Cell Biology Division.“Marta was on a train that collided with another near Urda, Spain, on Wednesday October 28, as she was travelling to receive the scientific excellence prize from the Spanish Society of Developmental Biology.“Marta was an inspiring, talented and passionate scientist. Her death is a profound shock and a huge loss.“Our thoughts are with her family, friends and colleagues at this extremely difficult time.“The LMB is offering support to members of its community as they navigate this tragic loss.”Director of the University of Cambridge Stem Cell Institute (CSCI), Prof Bertie Gottgens, said its community is “shocked and deeply saddened” by Dr Shahbazi’s death.Read MoreHe added: “Marta led her primary research group at the MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology (LMB) alongside her roles as an affiliate principal investigator and affiliate assistant professor at the CSCI.“Across both institutes, she was highly respected for her pioneering research on early human development and valued for her collaborative spirit. Her creativity, passion, and generosity will be greatly missed.”At least 69 people are thought to have lost their lives in the disaster, which was the country’s second high-speed rail crash this year.Both collisions occurred on the same line between the central city of Madrid, Spain’s capital, and Seville, in the Andalucia region in the south of the country.Three days of national mourning were observed from Thursday, with Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez describing the incident as a “tragedy” and promising an investigation.