Ctgov MCP Server

Enables analysis of clinical trial data from the AACT database, tracking development trends, and generating analysis memos.

Local serverstdio 9

What is the Ctgov MCP server?

Enables analysis of clinical trial data from the AACT database, tracking development trends, and generating analysis memos. The ctgov mcp server wraps that behind the Model Context Protocol, so an assistant can use it through 7 defined tools rather than through you.

What it actually does

Query the AACT (ClinicalTrials.gov) database directly from Claude. Explore 70+ tables of clinical trial data — studies, interventions, outcomes, sponsors, facilities — using read-only SQL with buffered pagination.

Its toolset

Everything the assistant can do here goes through one of these:

  • database_info — Confirm database connection, server time, and data currency
  • list_tables — Discover all available tables with approximate row counts
  • describe_table — Inspect column names, types, distinct counts, and sample values
  • get_column_values — Get distinct values for a column with counts — essential before filtering
  • search_columns — Find columns by keyword across all tables (e.g. masking -> designs.masking)
  • read_query — Execute a SELECT, CTE, or EXPLAIN query with buffered results and preview
  • fetch_rows — Page through buffered query results without re-querying

Configuration

You will need 2 environment variables: DB_USER, DB_PASSWORD. Keep credentials in your client's env block or a secrets manager rather than in a file you might commit.

Adding it to your client

The server ships on PyPI as ENOENT, so your MCP client can launch it on demand — there is no separate build step. Add the server block to your client's configuration, restart it, and the tools register themselves.

When to reach for it

Among the database access options, the useful question is rarely "what can it do" but "what does it cost you to run" — permissions, credentials, and how much of your context its toolset consumes. Ctgov's toolset — database_info, list_tables, describe_table and 4 more — is a fair guide to whether it matches your workflow. It is maintained by navisbio; worth a glance at recent repository activity before you build anything load-bearing on it.

This entry was verified against Ctgov's own documentation before publication; SyncDev keeps the directory reviewed rather than auto-generated.

Caveats

  • It runs with your machine's permissions. That is convenient and also the reason to think about what you point it at before you approve a tool call.
  • MCP clients confirm each tool call by default. Leave that on until you have watched what the ctgov mcp server does with a few real requests.

Available tools

ToolWhat it does
database_infoConfirm database connection, server time, and data currency
list_tablesDiscover all available tables with approximate row counts
describe_tableInspect column names, types, distinct counts, and sample values
get_column_valuesGet distinct values for a column with counts — essential before filtering
search_columnsFind columns by keyword across all tables (e.g. masking -> designs.masking)
read_queryExecute a SELECT, CTE, or EXPLAIN query with buffered results and preview
fetch_rowsPage through buffered query results without re-querying

How to install the Ctgov MCP server

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "aact": {
      "command": "uvx",
      "args": ["mcp-server-aact"],
      "env": {
        "DB_USER": "your_username",
        "DB_PASSWORD": "your_password"
      }
    }
  }
}

Configuration as documented by the project. Restart the client after saving.

Configuration

VariableDescriptionRequired
DB_USERConfiguration value read at startup.Optional
DB_PASSWORDConfiguration value read at startup.Optional

Example prompts to try

  • Use Ctgov to database info.
  • Use Ctgov to list tables.
  • Use Ctgov to describe table.

Frequently asked questions

Ctgov is a tool that provides access to and enables analysis of clinical trial data from the AACT (Aggregate Analysis of ClinicalTrials.gov) database. It helps track development trends in therapeutic areas and automatically generates analysis memos.