MRC Data Support Service
The MRC Data Support Service project works to facilitate and support data sharing for population and patient studies, in order to optimise the long-term use of rich data assets for new science.
The project works closely with MRC data managers to coordinate and promote work on data sharing tools and standards and to promote the exchange of good practice.
MRC DSS-3
The MRC Data Support Service project is currently in its third phase, during which we are working with the 15 largest MRC-funded (and co-funded) cohort studies, which in 2009/10 had a combined annual expenditure of £10.4m. The work with the cohorts focuses on:
- Developing policy guidance for population and patient studies on sharing of research data and on data management planning, with expert input and in line with policies of other funder to ensure harmonised principles
- Launching the prototype MRC Research Data Gateway to facilitate the discovery of research data, metadata and documentation
- Planning and developing a sustainable MRC Research Data Gateway and Directory of Population and Patient Research Data, with data management toolkit to support data sharing
- Engaging further cohort studies to contribute metadata to the Directory of Population and Patient Research Data
- Growing a data managers network with a programme of value-adding activities, to enable the preceding objectives
MRC DSS-2
During this phase, a consortium of the Science and Technology Facilities Council, University College London and Oxford University, in collaboration with five MRC-funded case studies, developed a prototype online gateway for the discovery of MRC-funded population and patient studies and their variables with a Directory of MRC population cohort datasets. Data sharing policy guidance for population and cohort studies was also developed.