The Institute of Cancer Research, London, today launches a sophisticated new website designed to use news and multimedia to provide the public with a window onto its world-leading cancer research.
The website borrows its set-up from media organisations and can publish news, blogs and video tailored to the section of the site visitors are using – so they can move easily from technical information about our science to relevant media content.
It is also designed to introduce the people who have placed The Institute of Cancer Research (ICR) among the world’s most influential cancer research organisations – from its leading scientists and clinicians, to fundraisers and specialists in commercial collaboration.
The ICR is ranked as the UK’s leading academic institution and, with its clinical partner The Royal Marsden, is in the top four centres for cancer research and treatment worldwide. But it had become clear that it needed a truly world-class website to give its researchers the recognition that they deserved for their pioneering work.
The ICR is a research institute and university with charitable status, and is funded through Government money, charity grants and donations from members of the public.
The new website is intended to fulfil its public duty to communicate about its science while attracting new donations to support its work, and the best new staff and students to come and work here.
The new site was designed by the award-winning web agency Bostock and Pollitt and is built on the Sitefinity content management system – which was chosen for its flexibility of use as a publishing and communication tool.
It will communicate about the ICR’s research using new dedicated web pages, news stories, blogs, features, videos and close integration with Twitter and Facebook.
Each news story, blog, feature or video will be tagged with the exact area of cancer research it covers – and media content will be pulled through to the matching scientific part of the site.
The set-up will allow for easy lateral navigation from detailed scientific pages to media content explaining the science - so the ICR’s research becomes much more accessible to members of the public, policy makers and potential donors.
It also has a responsive design, which means it adapts the way it displays for users viewing it on tablets or mobile phones.
Richard Hoey, the ICR’s Director of Communications, said: “The ICR is a dynamic, confident, world-class cancer research organisation, and we wanted to create a website to match. There is a huge public appetite for information about cancer research, and the new site aims to satisfy that by showcasing our pioneering work.
“The ICR is incredibly respected in scientific circles, but our research deserves to be better known among the wider public, and this site is an important step towards changing that.”
Professor Paul Workman, Interim Chief Executive of The Institute of Cancer Research, London, said: “This is a website designed to capture the spirit of the ICR, as a bold, confident, modern and innovative organisation. I hope it will attract new audiences to discover for themselves our pioneering cancer research, and the fantastic benefits it is bringing to patients.”