# Alterlab Bgpt Search

> Search scientific papers and retrieve structured experimental data extracted from full-text studies via the BGPT MCP server, returning 25+ fields per paper (methods, results, sample sizes, quality scores, conclusions). Use when running a literature review or evidence synthesis, or when needing experimental details (sample sizes, effect sizes, methods, quality scores) that abstracts alone do not provide. Part of the AlterLab Academic Skills suite.

- Skill: `alterlab-ieu/alterlab-bgpt-search` (Agent Skill, multi-file: 2 files)
- Install (CLI): `npx skillmds@latest add alterlab-ieu/alterlab-bgpt-search`
- Raw SKILL.md: https://api.skillmd.com/api/skills/alterlab-ieu/alterlab-bgpt-search/raw
- Safety review: pending (external: skill-scanner PASS, skillspector PASS)
- Works with: Claude Code, Claude.ai, OpenAI Codex
- Category: AI & ML
- License: MIT
- Author: AlterLab-IEU (https://skillmd.com/u/alterlab-ieu)
- Updated: 2026-09-08
- Page: https://skillmd.com/skills/alterlab-ieu/alterlab-bgpt-search

---


# BGPT Paper Search

## Overview

BGPT is a remote MCP server that searches a curated database of scientific papers built from raw experimental data extracted from full-text studies. Unlike traditional literature databases that return titles and abstracts, BGPT returns structured data from the actual paper content — methods, quantitative results, sample sizes, quality assessments, and 25+ metadata fields per paper.

## When to Use This Skill

Use BGPT when the value is in structured full-text experimental data, not titles/abstracts:
- Building evidence tables for a meta-analysis, scoping review, or clinical guideline
- Extracting sample sizes, effect sizes, methods, protocols, or conclusions across studies
- Comparing methodologies, or filtering papers by quality score / evidence grading

For broad title/abstract discovery use `alterlab-pubmed`; for real-time web-grounded summaries of recent developments use `alterlab-perplexity`.

## Setup

BGPT is a remote MCP server — no local installation required.

### Claude Desktop / Claude Code

Add to your MCP configuration:

```json
{
  "mcpServers": {
    "bgpt": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": ["mcp-remote", "https://bgpt.pro/mcp/sse"]
    }
  }
}
```

### npm (alternative)

```bash
npx bgpt-mcp
```

## Usage

Once configured, use the `search_papers` tool provided by the BGPT MCP server:

```
Search for papers about: "CRISPR gene editing efficiency in human cells"
```

The server returns structured results including:
- **Title, authors, journal, year, DOI**
- **Methods**: Experimental techniques, models, protocols
- **Results**: Key findings with quantitative data
- **Sample sizes**: Number of subjects/samples
- **Quality scores**: Study quality assessments
- **Conclusions**: Author conclusions and implications

## Pricing

- **Free tier**: 50 free results, no API key required
- **Paid**: $0.02 per result (billed per result actually returned, not per search) with an API key from [bgpt.pro/mcp](https://bgpt.pro/mcp)

## Complementary Skills

Pairs well with:
- `alterlab-literature-review` — gather structured data with BGPT, then synthesize
- `alterlab-pubmed` — PubMed for broad discovery, BGPT for deep experimental data
- `alterlab-biorxiv` — combine preprint discovery with full-text data extraction
- `alterlab-pyzotero` — manage citations from BGPT search results