How to Use the NIH RePORTER (Research Funding) MCP in Claude

Track federal research grants directly in Claude Desktop to analyze funding trends and publication outputs without switching tabs.

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Connect NIH RePORTER (Research Funding) MCP to Claude Desktop

Create your Vinkius account to connect NIH RePORTER (Research Funding) to Claude Desktop 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 NIH RePORTER (Research Funding) with Claude Desktop

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Claude

Perplexity

Query NIH RePORTER funding data

Use the `search_projects` tool to pull grant amounts, PI names, and project abstracts directly into your chat. Stop guessing where the money goes and look at the raw numbers. This MCP Server connects your local Claude Desktop environment to the NIH database. You get precise financial data for any research area without leaving your desktop interface.

Map research to published work

Trigger `search_publications` to find the peer-reviewed results tied to specific grants. You can verify if a funded project actually led to a paper. Linking grants to outcomes is usually a nightmare of manual cross-referencing. This tool automates the connection so you can focus on the scientific impact.

Analyze research trends fast

Combine both tools to build a longitudinal view of a lab's productivity. You can see the full cycle from initial funding to final publication. Your AI client handles the data gathering while you evaluate the results. It is the fastest way to spot which research domains are getting actual traction.

Setup guide

Set up NIH RePORTER (Research Funding) MCP in Claude Web or Desktop

1

Open Claude Settings

Go to claude.ai, click your profile icon, then navigate to Customize → Connectors.
2

Add Custom Connector

Click the "+" button and select Add custom connector. Paste your Vinkius endpoint URL: https://edge.vinkius.com/[YOUR_TOKEN_HERE]/mcp Replace [YOUR_TOKEN_HERE] with your token from cloud.vinkius.com. For OAuth-protected servers, expand Advanced settings to add credentials.
3

Start a conversation

Open a new chat. The NIH RePORTER (Research Funding) MCP tools are available immediately — no restart needed.

Endpoint URL

https://edge.vinkius.com/[YOUR_TOKEN_HERE]/mcp

No configuration file needed — paste the URL directly in the Claude web interface.

Available on Free (1 connector), Pro, Max, Team, and Enterprise plans.

Prerequisites

Claude Desktop installed (macOS or Windows)
Active Vinkius subscription with a valid endpoint token

1

Open Claude Desktop Settings

Click the menu icon at the top-left corner, go to Settings → Developer → Edit Config. This opens claude_desktop_config.json in your default text editor.
2

Paste the NIH RePORTER (Research Funding) MCP configuration

Copy the JSON snippet on the right into the mcpServers object. Replace [YOUR_TOKEN_HERE] with your endpoint token from cloud.vinkius.com.
3

Restart Claude Desktop

Close and reopen the application. Claude needs a full restart to load new MCPs — refreshing a conversation is not enough.
4

Verify the connection

Open a new conversation. Click the 🔌 icon at the bottom of the message input. You should see tools listed under nih-reporter-research-funding-mcp.

json

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "nih-reporter-research-funding-mcp": {
      "url": "https://edge.vinkius.com/[YOUR_TOKEN_HERE]/mcp"
    }
  }
}

Get your connection token →

Independent Platform Disclaimer: Vinkius is an independent platform and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, sponsored by, verified by, or otherwise authorized by NIH RePORTER. 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 NIH RePORTER (Research Funding) MCP in Claude Desktop

Yes. Simply ask your agent to search for projects by keyword or institution. The server returns the most recent records available from the API.

Vinkius manages the connection via a single endpoint token. You just add the server config to your local file and it works.

It runs on any machine where Claude Desktop is installed. You just need to update your config file in the AppData directory.

Your queries stay within your local session. The server only transmits the specific API requests for research data you initiate.

It accesses public grant metadata and publication identifiers. No sensitive personnel or proprietary health records are touched by these tools.

Use it with your favorite AI tools

Connect this server to Cursor, Claude, VS Code, and more.

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Pydantic AI sdk-python

Vercel AI SDK sdk-typescript

Mastra AI sdk-typescript

Start using the NIH RePORTER (Research Funding) MCP today

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