In this paper the development of askFuse is used as a case study to illustrate contextual and system barriers to universities providing useful, usable and timely research evidence in response to local practice and policy partners' stated public health research needs. Entrenched systems (research excellence framework, academic career pathways, procurement processes) proved to be considerable obstacles. Issues discussed in the successful operationalising of askFuse included: reputational risks, uncertainty; working round system barriers; dilemmas in costing the research; and an opportunity to re-think what counts as valuable research, effective public health research methods, and the creation of a new evidence base.