MRC expects valuable data arising from MRC-funded research to be made available to the scientific community with as few restrictions as possible so as to maximize the value of the data for research and for eventual patient and public benefit. Such data must be shared in a timely and responsible manner. Data arising from MRC-funded research must be properly curated throughout its life-cycle and released with the appropriate high-quality metadata. This is the responsibility of the data custodians, who are often those individuals or organisations that received MRC funding to create or collect the data. Data discovery platforms have an important role to play in enabling researchers to identify and extract value from the growing volume, diversity and complexity of biomedical, health and social sciences data. The Data Support Service Project (DSS 1-3) has delivered a prototype Gateway and Directory (with five studies), and validated standards and tools for metadata exchange by working with MRC Data Managers, and drawing on expertise outside the MRC.