How do I install the pubmed mcp server?

Use a recorded configuration for your client, replace example credential values and paths, and verify the documented runtime. Restart or reconnect the client, then inspect the available tools.

What credentials does it need?

It reads `NCBI_EMAIL`, `NCBI_API_KEY` from the environment. Store these in your client's env block or a secrets manager — never commit them to a repository — and grant the narrowest scope that still covers your use case.

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Pubmed MCP Server

CLI and Python SDK for biomedical literature search with MeSH, PICO, and intelligent query expansion

Local serverstdioPython

What is the Pubmed MCP Server?

CLI and Python SDK for biomedical literature search with MeSH, PICO, and intelligent query expansion

What the server does

CLI and Python SDK for biomedical literature search, query analysis, citation export, full-text lookup, and multi-source academic enrichment.

More MCP options

Compare MCP servers by category, or browse hosted MCP servers if you prefer an endpoint over a local process.

Maintainer setup documentation.

Recorded tools

Check the linked publisher documentation and your connected client's tool list. Names and availability can vary with the server version and account permissions.

Tool	What it does
search	Search biomedical literature across PubMed and optional academic sources.
strategy	Generate MeSH expansion and search strategy materials.
analyze-query	Analyze intent, complexity, identifiers, PICO, and source recommendations without running a search.
details	Fetch detailed metadata for one or more PMIDs.
export	Export citations as BibTeX, RIS, CSV, MEDLINE, CSL JSON, or JSON.
fulltext	Locate full-text access through available source resolvers.
text-mined	Retrieve text-mined biomedical terms when source data is available.
related	Find related articles for a PMID.
metrics	Fetch citation metrics where supported.
timeline	Build research timeline summaries from a query or PMID set.
cite-tree	Explore citation/reference relationships around a root PMID.
pico	Parse a clinical question into PICO-style components.

How to install the Pubmed MCP Server

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "pubmed-search-1": {
      "command": "uvx",
      "args": ["pubmed-search"],
      "env": {
        "NCBI_EMAIL": "your-value",
        "NCBI_API_KEY": "your-value"
      }
    }
  }
}

Add to claude_desktop_config.json, then restart Claude Desktop.

Configuration

Variable	Description	Required
NCBI_EMAIL	Configuration value read at startup.	Optional
NCBI_API_KEY	Credential the server authenticates with.	Yes

Example prompts to try

“Use Pubmed to search.”
“Use Pubmed to strategy.”
“Use Pubmed to analyze-query.”

Frequently asked questions

CLI and Python SDK for biomedical literature search with MeSH, PICO, and intelligent query expansion Confirm the tools offered by your installed version in the connected client. Tool availability and permissions depend on the server and account configuration.

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