Watch our animation for a two-minute introduction to AskFuse

What is AskFuse?

The AskFuse service is the research and evaluation service for policy and practice partners.  Practice partners are colleagues working in local authorities, voluntary organisations, health and communities interested in public health research.  

We work with policy and practice partners across the Northeast and North Cumbria to find answers to important public health issues. 

We aim is to increase the amount of public health research carried out in the region by developing sustainable partnerships.  We also support getting the results of research used in practice to improve everyone’s health. 

What does AskFuse do?

Our service is free.

If you are a policy or practice partner working in the North East or North Cumbria region, we introduce you to Fuse researchers across the six universities who are interested in your research or evaluation enquiry.

• Provide research summaries of existing research to answer your questions on what works, for whom and in what circumstances
• Analyse and interpret data you have already collected
• Co-facilitate an event to help you generate research priorities or build networks
• Help you develop new guidelines or strategies
• Undertake evaluations of services and projects, either financed by your organisation, or by applying for external funding with you as a partner
• Introduce you to other researchers or practice/policy partners in your area of interest
• We use knowledge mobilisation approaches and techniques (translational research) to help get your research used in practice.

The unique AskFuse process means that Fuse researchers are not in competition with each other but work collaboratively with you to explore your needs, and agree the nature, timescales and cost of any work. 

Research and evaluation outputs and recommendations aim to be useful, timely, independent, of high quality, and written in non-academic language.

We also add value to your research or evaluation enquiry by working with the Fuse Communications manager who can help get your research results to a wide audience.  We also work with the Fuse Public Involvement and Engagement manager to make sure that public and community voices are at the heart of your research or evaluation.

Contact the AskFuse team:

You can contact AskFuse via email: Lesley Haley l.haley@tees.ac.uk and Annmarie Ruse a.ruse@tees.ac.uk

We aim to get back to you within 2 working days to arrange a suitable time for an informal chat to about your enquiry.