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Michael Helms Consulting assists clients with finding funding opportunities for their research projects and helping them apply. My clients include faculty at universities and scientists and inventors at large and small companies. I have helped win over $250 million in funding from government agencies such as NIH, NSF, DoD, VA, and others, private foundations, and large companies. I have applied for and won grants of my own, and served on a review panel or study section for NIH, so I understand both the applicant and the funding agency. 

Please feel free to contact me using the contact page below.

About me

My name is Michael K. Helms, PhD, MBA. I am a research development professional and grants consultant with over 20 years of experience. I have written and won SBIR grants for myself, served on a review panel for NIH, consulted with universities, companies, and individual inventors to help them apply for grants, and helped faculty in the Stanford University School of Medicine apply for grants. I have helped win over $250 million in funding. I have a BS in biochemistry from the University of Maryland, a PhD in biochemistry from the University of Hawaii, and an MBA from Santa Clara University.

Services I provide include assisting clients by: 

  • finding funding opportunities and developing strategies for applying
  • setting timelines and keeping on-track for deadlines
  • contacting funding agencies to assess their level of interest
  • providing advice on good grantsmanship
  • providing advice on various sections of grant and contract applications, including both technical and administrative sections
  • editing, reviewing, and revising applications
  • assisting with figures and tables
  • assisting with application portals such as NIH ASSIST, NSF FastLane, etc.
  • and many others!

Fees: Please contact me to discuss my fees.

Testimonials

“During my three year tenure Michael was one of my “aces in the hole.” He was always available, willing and amazingly effective when big proposals came along, none more important than the CTSA grant–53million!– on which the Office of Research depends. Mike’s combination of support, guidance and disciplined oversight kept every aspect of our team’s work on track, and made my life as PI manageable, even fun. We prevailed in large measure because of Helms’ extraordinary value add. I would advise my colleagues facing any big program project or other proposal– what you need is Mike Helms!”

— Dr. Mark Cullen, Senior Associate Dean of Research and Professor (retired), Stanford

“Michael has been instrumental in the successful submission of large NIH and Industry research grants from faculty across the School of Medicine. His dedication, knowledge, and organization skills were the glue that held the teams together through the grant writing process. He is also great and fun to work with.”

— Dr. Ken Mahaffey, Associate Dean and Professor, Stanford

“Michael Helms was a joy to work with on multiple occasions over the past several years. I was referred to his office of Grant Development in the School of Medicine and we worked together on two very high-profile project grant submissions first in 2016 then in 2019. This included a gigantic effort to submit a so-called P30 center grant proposal to the US National Institutes of Health to support our diabetes center. Mike had a central role in coordinating our writing and data tables, and I could not have submitted the proposal without his help. I am happy to say this was funded – the first time Stanford has had a P30-supported diabetes center since the medical school was founded in 1959! More recently, in 2019 we submitted a pancreas cancer P01 center proposal (with me as co-director) and recently received a fundable score! This too was an enormous effort. This second center, focused on pancreatic cancer, is also one that Stanford Medical School has never had. I could go on and on but the bottom line is that Mike is a gem, has unique skills, and some one (if I had the resources) I would hire right away. I am more than happy to write more on his behalf, upon request. He will raise the performance of any institution he serves.”

— Dr. Seung Kim, Professor, Stanford

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Contact

Send Mike a message to start the conversation about how he can help.