Lee J. Helman received his M.D. from the University of Maryland School of Medicine and completed his internship and residency in Internal Medicine at Barnes Hospital Washington University.

Dr. Helman began his fellowship training at the National Cancer Institute (NCI) in 1983. He did his post-doctoral training in the Molecular Genetics Section, Pediatric Branch, NCI, and became Head of the Molecular Oncology Section, Pediatric Oncology Branch, NCI, in 1993. He served as Chief of the Pediatric Oncology Branch from 1997- 2007, and served as Scientific Director for Clinical Research in the Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute from 2007 to 2016. Dr. Helman is the past Chairman of the Board of Directors and is currently a member of the Board of Directors of and is a Clinical Advisor to The Children’s Inn at NIH.

Dr. Helman's laboratory currently studies the biology and treatment of rhabdomyosarcoma, Ewing's sarcoma, osteosarcoma, and pediatric GIST tumors.