# Helium Recycling for UIC Nuclear Magnetic Resonance

> **NIH NIH R24** · UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS AT CHICAGO · 2022 · $350,895

## Abstract

Project summary
Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) is a critical technique for characterization of small molecules such as
proteins, including their structure, dynamics monitoring and quantitative analysis, among others. For proper
operation of NMR instrumentation, cryogenic liquids such as helium are necessary to maintain low
temperatures required for operation. Helium is a limited natural resource and much of the cryogenic liquid used
for instruments such as NMR is released to the atmosphere during both routine operation and occasional
magnet fills. To address this issue, commercial vendors have developed helium gas capture and recycling
systems to be able to address the boil off loss. At the University of Illinois Chicago (UIC), our shared NMR
instrument core, located in the Center for Structural Biology, houses three NMR spectrometers with an
additional instrument planned for installation in the coming months. Thus, this facility demands substantial
liquid helium, which is both costly and uses a depleting natural resource. In response to this funding
announcement, we are proposing to prepare the site and install a helium recycling unit that has multi-
instrument capabilities in the Center for Structural Biology. The addition of this new system will streamline our
operations, modernize our facility and enable an increased user base for this shared facility.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10533681
- **Project number:** 1R24OD033744-01
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS AT CHICAGO
- **Principal Investigator:** Stephanie M Cologna
- **Activity code:** R24 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2022
- **Award amount:** $350,895
- **Award type:** 1
- **Project period:** 2022-08-01 → 2023-07-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10533681

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10533681, Helium Recycling for UIC Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (1R24OD033744-01). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-06-02 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10533681. Licensed CC0.

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