Fonte da imagem, MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology. Legenda da imagem, Dr Marta Shahbazi, fotografada em 2024, estava viajando para receber um prêmio em uma cerimônia de premiação em sua terra natal, Espanha, quando faleceu.
- Published1 November 2026, 07:43 GMT.
- MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology.
An award-winning University of Cambridge researcher died in the Spanish train disaster while on her way to collect a prize for scientific excellence.
Dr Marta Shahbazi was travelling to an awards ceremony on Wednesday when the train she was on crashed into another near Urda, south of Madrid, killing 69 people.
The mother of two was an affiliate associate professor leading a group of researchers at MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology (LMB) in Cambridge and had earned several awards for work on human embryos and cell biology.
Em comunicado, o LMB homenageou a “cientista inspiradora, talentosa e apaixonada” e descreveu sua morte como um “choque profundo e uma enorme perda”.
O especialista em biologia celular dirigia o Laboratório Shahbazi no LMB, baseado no Cambridge Biomedical Campus.
She had been announced as the winner of a Spanish Society for Developmental Biology award for her contributions to the study of early human development and was due to collect the award at a conference in El Rompido in Andalusia.
The LMB said: "Como esposa e mãe de dois filhos pequenos, Marta escreveu de forma eloquente sobre equilibrar sua família e carreira, servindo como um modelo muito admirado de 'mãe cientista', um termo que ela usou para se descrever.
Marta 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," the LMB said.
The institute said her death was "a profound shock and a huge loss for LMB.
Seu trabalho havia sido reconhecido com “muitos prêmios e troféus”, acrescentou o laboratório.
Image source, MRC Laboratory of Molecular BiologyImage caption, Shahbazi joined the Cambridge laboratory in 2020.
Shahbazi is listed on the University of Cambridge website as a principal investigator at its Stem Cell Institute (CSCI).
O diretor do Instituto, Prof. Bertie Gottgens, disse que a sua comunidade estava “shocked and deeply saddened” pela sua morte.
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," he said.
Em ambos os institutos, ela era altamente respeitada por suas pesquisas pioneiras sobre o desenvolvimento humano precoce e valorizada por seu espírito colaborativo.
Her creativity, passion, and generosity will be greatly missed.
The news of her death was first confirmed in a social media post, external by the CiMUS, based in Santiago de Compostela where Shahbazi's aunt works.
Shahbazi undertook her PhD at the Spanish National Cancer Research Centre, before joining the University of Cambridge as a post-doctoral fellow and then the LMB in 2020.
O acidente na Espanha aconteceu quando um trem de alta velocidade operado pelo Renfe, estatal, colidiu com a parte traseira de um trem estacionado operado pela empresa Iryo.
É um dos piores desastres ferroviários da história moderna da Europa e o pior acidente da Espanha desde 2013.
Three days of national mourning were declared in the country.
More than 540 people were on board both trains.
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