UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM 8-K

CURRENT REPORT

PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE

SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

Date of report (Date of earliest event reported): January 4, 2012

HELICOS BIOSCIENCES CORPORATION

(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Charter)

(617) 264-1800

(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

Not applicable

(Former Name or Former Address, if Changed Since Last Report)

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:

o    Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425).

o    Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12).

o    Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b)).

o    Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c)).

Item 5.02                                             Departure of Directors or Certain Officers; Election of Directors; Appointment of Certain Officers; Compensatory Arrangements of Certain Officers.

(d)            Election of Bruce C. Ginsberg to the Board of Directors.

On January 4, 2012, the Company fixed the size of its Board of Directors at five (5) members and appointed Bruce C. Ginsberg as a director of the Company. Mr. Ginsberg has been appointed to a Committee of the Board of Directors formed to review certain financing matters.  Mr. Ginsberg is currently the President and Chief Executive Officer of MooBella, Inc., a food service provider, and is a member of the Board of Directors of Mac-Gray Corporation (NYSE: TUC) where he serves on the Audit Committee.  Mr. Ginsberg will receive an annual cash retainer in accordance with the Company’s current non-employee director compensation policy.

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SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

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