How to Use the ClinicalTrials.gov MCP in VS Code Copilot

Q: How do we configure VS Code Copilot for the team to use the ClinicalTrials.gov tools?

A developer adds the MCP server configuration to a .vscode/mcp.json file in your project's root directory. Once they commit and push that file, the entire team gets access to the tools in Copilot.

Give your entire engineering team access to the ClinicalTrials.gov database right inside VS Code Copilot.

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Connect ClinicalTrials.gov MCP to VS Code Copilot

Create your Vinkius account to connect ClinicalTrials.gov to VS Code Copilot and route execution through our secure gateway. The platform manages server hosting, runtime updates, and security layers. Configuration requires no manual server provisioning.

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Setup ClinicalTrials.gov with VS Code Copilot

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One config for the whole team

Add this ClinicalTrials.gov MCP server to your project's `.vscode/mcp.json` file and commit it. Now every developer on the team gets the same tools—`search_clinical_trials`, `get_trial_details`, and `find_recruiting_trials`—automatically. This means no more 'it works on my machine' issues. Your team's AI agents all have the same capabilities, so a prompt that works for one developer works for everyone.

Automate research with Copilot and this MCP Server

The `get_trial_details` tool is perfect for scripting. You can write a script to monitor a list of important clinical trials, and have Copilot call the tool in a loop to fetch the latest status for each NCT ID. Because Copilot can execute tools, you can automate data gathering tasks that used to be manual. It's a straightforward way to build internal dashboards or alerting systems based on trial updates.

Standardize how your team finds studies

With the `find_recruiting_trials` tool shared across the team, everyone uses the same method to find active studies. This ensures consistency in the data used to build front-end components or backend services. When your agent needs to find trials open for enrollment, it uses a vetted, reliable tool. This removes guesswork and makes your development process more predictable.

Setup guide

Set up ClinicalTrials.gov MCP in VS Code Copilot

Prerequisites

VS Code 1.99 or later with GitHub Copilot extension
Active Vinkius subscription with a valid endpoint token

1

Open MCP configuration

Open the Command Palette (Cmd+Shift+P / Ctrl+Shift+P) and run "MCP: Add Server". Select HTTP (Streamable) as the server type. VS Code will create .vscode/mcp.json in your workspace.
2

Add the ClinicalTrials.gov MCP

Paste the JSON snippet shown on the right into your .vscode/mcp.json. Replace [YOUR_TOKEN_HERE] with your endpoint token from cloud.vinkius.com.
3

Switch to Agent mode

Open Copilot Chat (Cmd+Shift+I / Ctrl+Shift+I) and switch to Agent mode using the dropdown. MCP tools are only available in Agent mode — they do not appear in Edit or Ask modes.
4

Verify the connection

In the Copilot Chat input, type # to list available tools. You should see the ClinicalTrials.gov tools listed. Try asking: "List my recent ClinicalTrials.gov transactions" and Copilot will invoke them automatically.

.vscode/mcp.json

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "clinicaltrialsgov-mcp": {
      "url": "https://edge.vinkius.com/[YOUR_TOKEN_HERE]/mcp"
    }
  }
}

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Independent Platform Disclaimer: Vinkius is an independent platform and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, sponsored by, verified by, or otherwise authorized by ClinicalTrials.gov. All third-party trademarks, logos, and brand names are the property of their respective owners. Their use on this website is strictly for informational purposes to identify service compatibility and interoperability.

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Common questions about ClinicalTrials.gov MCP in VS Code Copilot

A developer adds the MCP server configuration to a `.vscode/mcp.json` file in your project's root directory. Once they commit and push that file, the entire team gets access to the tools in Copilot.

Yes. In a Python or JavaScript file, you can write code that calls the tools. For example, you can loop through a list of NCT IDs and have Copilot use `get_trial_details` to fetch info for each one.

There's no special command. Just ask Copilot's agent in plain English, like 'find me clinical trials that are currently recruiting for multiple sclerosis'. It will know to use the correct tool.

No, this is an independent MCP Server hosted on Vinkius that follows the open MCP standard. It works with any compatible client, including VS Code Copilot.

Yes. All requests, such as searches for specific conditions or trial identifiers, are proxied through a zero-trust, ephemeral instance. No part of your team's query data is ever logged or stored by Vinkius.

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