Helium Recycling for the NMR Facility at UT Health San Antonio

Project Summary/Abstract
Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) is an essential technique for the characterization of macromolecules,
including proteins, and provides insights into their structure, dynamics, and quantitative properties unattainable
with other techniques. The operation of NMR instruments requires cryogenic liquid helium to maintain the
superconducting state of the magnets. However, helium is a finite natural resource, and a significant amount is
lost to the atmosphere during routine operations and magnet refills. To mitigate this, commercial vendors have
developed systems for capturing and recycling helium gas to reduce these losses.
At the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio (UTHSA), the Structural Biology Core Facility
(SBC) has a 25-year history of supporting NIH-funded researchers who utilize structural techniques such as
cryo-EM, X-ray crystallography, and NMR to advance drug discovery and basic research aimed at improving
human health. Our Biomolecular NMR Facility currently operates two NMR spectrometers, with plans to add
another instrument in the future. This facility requires a significant amount of liquid helium for normal operations,
which is both expensive and causes undue reliance on a diminishing natural resource. In response to this funding
opportunity, we propose to prepare the site and install a helium capture and reliquification system designed to
serve the current and future needs of the NMR Facility. This addition will enhance our facility, reduce the financial
burden on users, streamline operations, and support a rapidly expanding user base.

Grant Number: 1S15OD039797-01
NIH Institute/Center: NIH
Principal Investigator: Kristin Cano