📌Overview

Purpose: To provide streamlined access to PubMed articles via the Entrez API for efficient research and information retrieval.

Overview: MCP Simple PubMed is a dedicated server that enables users to search, access abstracts, and download full-text articles from the PubMed database. It is optimized for use with AI applications, delivering content structured in a way that enhances AI processing and interaction.

Key Features:

• Keyword Search: Allows users to efficiently search the extensive PubMed database using relevant keywords, facilitating quick access to pertinent articles.

• Abstract Access: Provides immediate access to article abstracts, giving users a snapshot of research findings without needing full article access.

• Full Text Download: Supports the download of full texts for open access articles, formatted in XML to enhance usability for AI systems, while ensuring users can navigate around potential access limitations manually.

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MCP Simple PubMed

MCP Simple PubMed is an MCP server that provides access to PubMed articles through the Entrez API.

Features

• Search PubMed database using keywords
• Access article abstracts
• Download full text when available (for open access articles on PubMed)

Please note that the tool returns an XML version of the full text, which may be preferable for AIs as it includes additional structural information. If your AI assistant cannot access a paper's full text, consider trying manually with a regular web browser, as access issues may not always indicate unavailability.

This tool cannot provide access to paywalled articles, which may be accessible through library services or other platforms promoting open access to publicly funded research.

Installation

Installing via Smithery

To install Simple PubMed for Claude Desktop automatically via Smithery:

npx -y @smithery/cli install mcp-simple-pubmed --client claude

Manual Installation

pip install mcp-simple-pubmed

Configuration

The server requires the following environment variables:

• PUBMED_EMAIL: Your email address (required by NCBI)
• PUBMED_API_KEY: Optional API key for higher rate limits

The standard rate limit is 3 requests per second. For higher limits, you can register for an API key that allows up to 10 requests per second.

Usage with Claude Desktop

Add to your Claude Desktop configuration (claude_desktop_config.json):

Mac OS

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "simple-pubmed": {
      "command": "python",
      "args": ["-m", "mcp_simple_pubmed"],
      "env": {
        "PUBMED_EMAIL": "your-email@example.com",
        "PUBMED_API_KEY": "your-api-key" 
      }
    }
  }
}

Windows

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "simple-pubmed": {
      "command": "C:\\Users\\YOUR_USERNAME\\AppData\\Local\\Programs\\Python\\Python311\\python.exe",
      "args": [
        "-m",
        "mcp_simple_pubmed"
      ],
      "env": {
        "PUBMED_EMAIL": "your-email@example.com",
        "PUBMED_API_KEY": "your-api-key" 
      }
    }
  }
}

License

MIT License