2025 Year in Review & Outlook for the Foundation’s Future Work
Dear patients, valued supporters, and colleagues,
The year 2025 is coming to an end, and we look back on twelve eventful months that have been marked by significant developments for the Vigdis Thompson Foundation. Following the challenges of recent years, we reached important milestones in 2025 that will sustainably strengthen our foundation’s work and open up new perspectives for those affected. With this review of the year, we would like to inform you about the key events and give you an outlook on the months ahead.
St. Marienstift Hospital Magdeburg: A Successful First Year
May 1, 2025, marked a decisive turning point in our foundation’s work. With the St. Marienstift Magdeburg GmbH hospital, we were able to gain a new partner clinic, with which cooperation has already proven extremely successful in the first few months. Under the direction of Prof. Dr. med. habil. Michael Luchtmann, our chairman of the board, a center of excellence for arachnoiditis, Tarlov cysts, and chronic back pain due to neuromuscular dysfunction was established there.
The results from the first eight months speak for themselves: Since May 2025, around 100 surgeries have already been performed, and about 150 patients have had outpatient consultations. These numbers show that we have created a reliable point of contact for those affected at the Magdeburg location. The experienced medical team was able to seamlessly continue the successful work previously carried out in Zwickau and implement the established treatment strategies in this new setting.
For many affected individuals, this development means one thing above everything else: planning reliability. The concerns and uncertainties associated with the organizational transition were significantly alleviated by the professional implementation at St. Marienstift Hospital Magdeburg. We are especially pleased that the personal counseling services offered on-site have been so well received, and that the trusted cooperation between the foundation, the medical team, and the patients could be successfully continued.
Foundation Office Werdau: Relocation in February 2026
Another important change is imminent: In February 2026, the office of the Vigdis Thompson Foundation will move from Werdau to Crimmitschau. After years at our previous location at August-Bebel-Straße 34 in Werdau, we will be moving to new premises that are even better suited to our current requirements.
The move is a logistical step that has been carefully planned so as not to disrupt the ongoing care of patients. We will inform you in good time about the new address as well as any associated changes in availability during the transition phase. We can already let you know that the move will also impact our technical infrastructure, and there will be a very brief period during which it will not be possible to transmit data online in the course of a consultation request. We will communicate the exact timeframes on Facebook and via our website. Our goal is to make the move as smooth as possible and to ensure that you can continue to reach us through the usual communication channels.
The new premises will provide us with improved opportunities for administrative tasks and coordinating our wide range of activities. At the same time, personal availability and the familiar cooperation with Ms. Walther from the foundation office will, of course, remain unchanged. We are looking forward to this step with confidence and are convinced it will strengthen the foundation’s work in the long term.
Academic Network: Expansion of cooperation with the West Saxon University of Applied Sciences Zwickau
Another focus for 2026 will be the expansion of scientific cooperation with the West Saxon University of Applied Sciences in Zwickau. Prof. Dr. med. habil. Michael Luchtmann, regardless of his move to Magdeburg, has remained committed to the West Saxony region through his engagement at the university. This continuity is of great importance to us, as it builds a bridge between clinical practice and scientific research.
In the course of 2026, we plan to intensify our cooperation with the West Saxon University of Applied Sciences and initiate new research projects. In particular, these will focus on the scientific evaluation of collected clinical data, the further development of innovative therapeutic approaches, and the promotion of young scientists. The close link between university research and practical patient care has always been a cornerstone of our foundation’s work and will be further strengthened through this enhanced cooperation.
For those affected, this means: The treatment strategies applied at our partner clinics will be continuously evaluated scientifically and further developed based on the latest findings. Every surgery, every thecaloscopy contributes to deepening our understanding of these complex diseases and enabling us to offer even better treatment options to future patients.
Thanks and Outlook
The year 2025 has shown that our mission – to improve the quality of life for people with arachnoiditis, Tarlov cysts, and chronic back pain – is built on a solid foundation. The successful establishment of the center of excellence in Magdeburg, the upcoming optimization of our administrative structures by moving the office, and the planned intensification of academic work are all important steps along this path.
We would like to thank all our patients for their trust and patience, especially during times when organizational adjustments were necessary. Our thanks also go to the numerous donors and our sponsors and promoters, without whose support our work would not be possible. Funding research, patient care, and administration requires ongoing efforts, and every contribution helps us realize the goals of our foundation.
We look forward with confidence to 2026 and the challenges it will bring. The relocation of the foundation’s office, the further expansion of scientific cooperation with the West Saxon University of Applied Sciences, and the continuation of our successful work at St. Marienstift Hospital in Magdeburg will demand our attention. But we are well-prepared and motivated to meet these tasks head-on.
Contact and Availability
For questions or concerns, you can continue to reach us through the usual communication channels. Ms. Walther in the foundation office will continue to coordinate patient consultations and surgery appointments according to the waiting lists. As soon as we have specific information about the new office address, we will immediately communicate it across all channels.
We wish all of you a peaceful Christmas and a good start to a healthy and hopeful year 2026. Together, we will continue on our path – because giving up is not an option!
