File Path/Global name issue

[roy.snuffles at gmail.com]

I am currently running code for a program called HotNet (https://github.com/raphael-group/hotnet)

In its simpleRun.py file, there is a place to insert a file path to be run. 

parser.add_argument('-mf', '--infmat_file', required=True,
                        help='Path to .mat file containing influence matrix')

My path file is /home/lai/Downloads/influence_matrix_files/hprd_inf_.mat

And I have tried to add it in as such: 

Input: 

parser.add_argument('-mf', '--infmat_file', required=True,
                   help= /home/lai/Downloads/influence_matrix_file/hprd_inf_.mat)

Output:   

File "simpleRun.py", line 29
    help= ~/home/lai/Downloads/influence_matrix_files/hprd_inf_.mat)
           ^
SyntaxError: invalid syntax

I have also tried to place the path in ' ' but that isn't processed.

I have tried removing the / however that just returns the following error: 

NameError: global name 'home' is not defined


Completely new at this, so thank you for bearing with me and for the help!