When news broke that the Strait of Hormuz closed amid escalating conflict between the US and Iran, most headlines focused on oil. But for research institutions like UCSF, helium quickly became top of mind. Liquefied helium is essential to modern medicine and science as a coolant for MRI systems and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) instruments. Without it, key diagnostic and research capabilities would be significantly constrained.

Why the Strait of Hormuz Matters

Dean Shehu, Senior Category Manager for UCSF Supply Chain Management’s (SCM) Strategic Procurement, noted that one third of the world’s helium comes from Qatar. With the Strait closed, a major global supply route is effectively disrupted. If the closure persists for months, the effects are expected to ripple across industries, including healthcare and research.

UCSF’s Supply Position

UCSF enters this situation significantly better prepared than in past helium supply disruptions. A key reason is the institution’s investment in sustainability and efficiency, particularly helium recycling systems. These systems have dramatically reduced consumption. UCSF now uses approximately 1,372 liters of liquid helium per year, down from more than 18,000 liters annually. This reduction not only supports financial and environmental sustainability goals but also provides strong resilience during supply disruptions.  

Early Coordination and Scenario Planning

Within minutes of the Strait of Hormuz closure becoming public, internal coordination was already underway between Dean and NMR Core Director, Professor Mark Kelly, via email , emphasizing the importance of helium supply at UCSF.  

Since then, SCM has taken several coordinated steps, including reaching out to suppliers to assess exposure to helium from Qatar, communicating updates across all UCSF NMR system stakeholders, and gathering data from labs on annual helium consumption and upcoming fill schedules. Professor Kelly has stocked excess gaseous helium, which can be converted to liquid if needed, providing three months of supply. UCSF’s precautions bode well for proactively addressing supply vulnerabilities. Dean mentioned that he would become involved in daily coordination with suppliers to secure more helium.

Waiting on Global Events to Unfold

The closure of the Strait of Hormuz highlights how global events affect specialized areas of healthcare and research.  If helium supply remains constrained, UCSF is prepared to actively manage resources. Dean explained, “If the closure continues for months, I’ll need to coordinate incoming supplies among the labs.”