NCRI: Empowering cancer decisions with a high-impact data platform
The National Cancer Registry of Ireland needed a modern, accessible and data-rich platform to serve researchers, clinicians, policymakers and the public. Its powerful, user-first digital experience puts critical cancer data at everyone’s fingertips. And it's so easy to use.
Background
The National Cancer Registry Ireland (NCRI) provides comprehensive data for understanding and controlling cancer in Ireland. It provides vital statistics and insights to inform policy and research, enhance public health initiatives, and improve patient outcomes across Ireland. NCRI’s current Strategic Plan (2024-2026) sets out the following:
“NCRI has been instrumental in collecting and analysing valuable data, providing insights that have guided interventions and improved patient outcomes. Building upon this foundation and anticipating digital health advancements, our strategy aims to further enhance our data collection methods, strengthen collaborations, and leverage advanced analytics to drive evidence-based decision-making. By doing so, we will continue to play a vital role in shaping the future of cancer control, ultimately making a positive impact on the lives of those affected by cancer.”
Updating NCRI’s website was key to delivering the strategic objectives. It would:
- make information easily available
- communicate trusted cancer data to the public in plain English
- promote patient and public involvement
- increase engagement and accessibility for target groups, i.e. clinicians, researchers, media and the public.
Additionally, NCRI previously operated a Drupal 7 website, which had become obsolete with the platform’s end of life in January 2025 and so it was important to rebuild the site on a new secure platform.
The site also struggled with a dated design, complex navigation, and overwhelming text-heavy content. Users found it difficult to locate vital information efficiently. Furthermore, the site lacked mobile responsiveness, modern accessibility compliance and effective content management for NCRI’s growing catalogue of reports, publications and research outputs.
Our approach
Recognising the critical role the NCRI plays in disseminating cancer data and research, we adopted a human-centred approach.
Bringing together NCRI’s cross-department website team and Annertech’s designers, developers and content specialists, the project successfully transformed a complex data repository into an accessible, transparent, and user-friendly public resource.
From inception, this project was shaped by joint discovery workshops where all stakeholders contributed to defining user personas, content priorities and technical requirements. This ensured the website reflected the diverse needs of researchers, clinicians, policymakers and the general public while maintaining full data integrity.
The content redevelopment phase epitomised collaboration. NCRI’s communications officer and Annertech’s content team conducted a thorough audit of thousands of legacy records, removing outdated materials and rewriting content to present clear, jargon-free, scientifically accurate information.
Complex datasets were presented through interactive visualisations and custom-built comparative statistics tools that make cancer trends accessible and understandable to all.
Throughout design and development, accessibility and GDPR compliance were embedded by design, ensuring the data is not only open but responsibly and ethically shared.
The result is a transparent, trustworthy, and inclusive open data platform that supports public understanding, evidence-based policy, and research innovation; delivering maximum public value for Ireland.
Content now follows plain language principles, making complex data understandable to the general public while still serving expert audiences.
Visually, we delivered a sharp, modern interface aligned with NCRI’s refreshed brand guidelines. Due to limited image assets, we leveraged NCRI’s brand colours and custom iconography to maintain engagement without overwhelming visual clutter.
Technology and compliance:
- The site is fully responsive across devices, optimised for low-bandwidth connections which are common in parts of Ireland.
- Powered by Apache Solr, the advanced site-wide search function indexes all content, delivering fast, highly relevant results.
- WCAG AA-level accessibility ensures the platform is inclusive to users of all abilities.
- GDPR compliance and "privacy by design" principles ensure secure data handling.
- Print-friendly stylesheets enable easy content printing and offline access.
Key numbers
Impact
The project successfully transformed NCRI’s online presence into a powerful, accessible resource that supports its mission: improving cancer outcomes through comprehensive, transparent information dissemination.
Improved access to reliable cancer data
The NCRI website is a national open data resource, providing comprehensive and authoritative information on cancer incidence, survival, and mortality in Ireland.
Previously, the website’s fragmented content, technical limitations, and complex language presented barriers to access and understanding.
The redesigned platform overcomes these challenges with an intuitive navigation structure, simplified content, and powerful Solr-powered search functionality that allows users to quickly locate specific data, whether searching for incidence trends, research findings or reports to inform policy and care.
These improvements enable faster, evidence-based decision-making for clinicians, researchers, and public health officials, while also fostering cross-border and international research collaborations.
"This project has completely transformed how we share cancer data with our stakeholders. The collaborative approach between NCRI and Annertech ensured that the new website is not only statistically robust, but also accessible, intuitive, and user-friendly for everyone. We are particularly proud of how the platform now empowers individuals to better understand cancer statistics and supports evidence-based policy and research. This redevelopment reflects our commitment to transparency, public engagement, and the responsible sharing of open data to improve cancer outcomes in Ireland and beyond."
– Professor Deirdre Murray, NCRI Director
Empowering public understanding
One of NCRI’s key objectives is to broaden public understanding of cancer statistics and outcomes. The previous website's complex language and data presentation were barriers for many non-specialist users.
- By adopting plain language principles, simplifying explanations, and introducing visually engaging content such as infographics, carousels, and bespoke icons, the new site makes complex information approachable and meaningful for the general public.
- Dynamically updated content ensures timely and relevant information is always available.
- Comparative statistics components, which present animated side-by-side figures for men and women, help demystify cancer incidence and mortality data.
These innovations empower individuals, patients, and families with accurate, understandable information about cancer in Ireland, reducing misinformation and enabling more informed personal healthcare decisions.
Supporting policy and health planning
The website serves as a critical tool for public sector health planning. The redesigned reports section consolidates all NCRI publications into a single, searchable, filterable interface.
Policymakers, government agencies and healthcare planners can now easily access real-time cancer data, reports, and factsheets, ensuring national cancer control strategies and health resource allocations are grounded in the latest evidence.
The integration of interactive data visualisation tools allows users to generate custom charts, tables, and downloadable datasets. This level of accessibility is expected to support more agile, data-driven decision-making at both national and regional levels.
Performance
The website scores a GT Metrix score A. Its performance is optimal, at 99%, and the website structure is 84%.
Early analytics show:
- 45% increase in average session duration, revealing improved engagement.
- 60% reduction in bounce rates, demonstrating more effective navigation
- Search usage up by 75%, confirming the prominence and effectiveness of the new Solr-powered search tool
Conclusion
The redevelopment of the NCRI website delivers significant benefits to users across the island of Ireland, with broader implications for global cancer research, policy-making and public health awareness.
Beyond its national remit, this project demonstrates public sector digital excellence. The site strives to meet WCAG 2.2 AA accessibility standards, ensuring inclusivity for all users, including those with disabilities. Optimised mobile performance and low-bandwidth compatibility guarantee equitable access, particularly important in rural and remote communities across Ireland.
The project fully complies with GDPR and privacy-by-design principles, building public trust and safeguarding sensitive information – all critical pillars of responsible open data practice.
The NCRI website redevelopment delivers immediate, measurable benefits while establishing a scalable, secure, and future-proof open data platform. It directly supports better cancer outcomes, advances public sector transparency, and serves as a model for open government data delivery both in Ireland and internationally.
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