Tens of thousands of pounds are available to fund research aimed at saving lives and reducing injuries.

Academics are being urged to act quickly if they want to apply for a slice of what is believed to be one of the most innovative and influential accident-prevention scholarship schemes in the world.

The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA) set up the open challenge after British Nuclear Fuels (BNFL) donated £500,000 to support study that would have a significant impact on improving safety in the UK and around the world.

The closing date for 2010’s round of funding is Friday, April 2.

Applications are invited for projects costing up to £20,000 per annum that address any of the following key safety themes: improving standards of driving behaviour (particularly young drivers, older drivers, speeding, fatigue related accidents, motorcycle safety); reducing home accidents (particularly data collection/analysis; poverty and deprivation, child safety); raising standards of health and safety management (particularly in small firms, accident investigation, director leadership, workforce involvement, costing accidents); reducing injuries in water and leisure activities (particularly safety in outdoor education); enhancing risk understanding and awareness (particularly risk awareness in preparation for work), and increasing general public awareness of safety and accident prevention.

Tom Mullarkey, RoSPA chief executive, said: “It is important that we have some of the best brains in the world working on ways to improve safety. I would urge anyone thinking of applying to submit their project outline soon.

“We are looking for pioneering research schemes that will give us insight and information in our mission to save lives and reduce injuries. We received a wide range of strong applications during the first round of funding and are looking forward to the same diversity and quality this time around.”

Last year, funding went to projects analysing the scale and impact of child injuries in Nepal (PhD student, University of the West of England), the threat posed by cold water immersion (University of Portsmouth) and the effectiveness of a learner-driver coaching programme (Staffordshire County Council and Keele University).

It is envisaged that the RoSPA/BNFL Scholarship Scheme will run for 10 years, with up to three projects awarded grants annually. The researcher who produces the best work each year will receive a further cash prize as an added incentive for excellence.

Applications should be made on no more than two sides of A4 (for details visit www.rospa.com/occupationalsafety/occupational_health/info/bnfl_flyer.pdf).   

A panel will judge the submissions according to: extent of research, clarity of objectives, methodology, calibre of the research team, timescale, value for money, and likely safety gain. Summary biographical details of researchers and supervisors should also be included.

The winners will be announced at the RoSPA Awards in May.