Thursday, November 27, 2025

FUNKE launches nationwide awareness campaign “STUDIEN WIRKEN” – uniting key stakeholders to strengthen visibility, trust, and progress in clinical studies in Germany

Clinical studies are a cornerstone of modern medical care: they enable new therapies, innovative medications, and real progress for patients. Despite their critical importance, the topic receives far too little attention in Germany, leading to tangible disadvantages for millions of people. FUNKE is now taking action together with strong partners and supporters through the launch of the initiative STUDIEN WIRKEN.

The initiative aims to highlight the impact and relevance of clinical research, close information gaps, and bring essential stakeholders closer together. Through coordinated collaboration, the initiative seeks to drive improvements that will strengthen Germany as a location for clinical studies – ultimately benefiting patients.

“Health – and, in particular, education and information – is one of FUNKE’s core focus areas,” says Jochen Beckmann, Managing Director FUNKE National Brands. Emphasizing the responsibility of media companies, he explains: “We use our vast reach deliberately to shine a spotlight on a potentially life-saving topic such as clinical studies.”

The initiative unites expertise from medicine, science, research, and patient advocacy. Planned structures include working groups and a 30-member advisory board to strategically guide the initiative. “We are building a strong alliance that makes clinical studies visible and brings our mission to life,” says Henriette Schnabl, Chief Partnership Officer at FUNKE and head of the initiative.

Partners and supporters include the German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), the umbrella organization for people with chronic rare diseases ACHSE e.V., the German Association of Research-Based Pharmaceutical Companies (vfa), the Network University Medicine (NUM), as well as companies such as AstraZeneca, MSD, Pfizer, and Roche. The initiative is designed to grow continuously and remains open to additional partners from patient organizations, politics, research, and industry. Discussions with further potential collaborators are already underway.

With the launch of the initiative, FUNKE is rolling out a large-scale awareness campaign across all its media channels. Starting in November, ads and campaign visuals will appear across all FUNKE brands – in print, digital media, and on social platforms. A dedicated landing page provides accessible information about clinical studies and offers an interactive study finder. The campaign highlights that clinical studies are not abstract concepts but have real-world impact, can save lives, and help shape the future.

The creative concept was developed by the Berlin-based PEIX Health Group, which uses striking design elements and clear messaging to present the topic with strong visual impact.