Canadian researchers feel helium supply crunch

Leading Canadian research labs are grappling with 50% helium allocations as the supply crunch from the Middle East crisis intensifies.

Speaking to CBS, Bob Berno, from McMaster University’s nuclear magnetic research (NMR) facility in Hamilton, is among those receiving half supplies. “And there’s a significant price increase as well,” he said.

While MRI scanners can go a long time between helium refills, those at university research labs cannot. If the levels get too low, they can be permanently damage – which could impact important work in areas such as cancer research.

David Davidson, from the University of Manitoba NMR facility, added, “There is no substitute that we can use in these instruments to keep them magnetic, so without a continuous supply of helium we can’t do the research or maintain the instruments that we need here.”