• VERSIONING
  • PUBLICATION
  • MONITORING
  • HUMAN

How to track preprint publication status with your AI

Connect your AI to bioRxiv to watch for updates. Once linked, your agent handles the monitoring while you focus on your research.

Ask AI about this page

Short answer

How can I track a preprint's status with my AI?

Your AI uses the bioRxiv connector to check for new versions or formal journal publications. It can alert you when a preprint moves from bioRxiv to a peer-reviewed source. You get a clear view of the paper's lifecycle.

The outcomes.

What you get from this task.

The AI manages the data retrieval and status checks.

VERSIONING

Track version history

The AI pulls every iteration of a preprint. You see exactly how the manuscript has changed over time.

PUBLICATION

Identify journal moves

The agent detects when a preprint has been formally published. It links the preprint to its peer-reviewed counterpart.

MONITORING

Automated status checks

Instead of refreshing a browser, your AI checks for updates. It keeps you informed on the paper's current state.

HUMAN

Review and decide

The AI provides the data, but you decide which updates matter for your citations or literature review.

The workflow

What your AI does when a preprint is identified.

The AI performs specific lookups to build a timeline of the paper.

  1. Fetch preprint history

    The agent gathers all existing versions of the specific preprint to establish a baseline.

    get_preprint_versions

  2. Check for journal status

    The AI looks for any formal publication links associated with the preprint ID.

    get_published_tracking

  3. Retrieve latest version

    If an update is found, the agent pulls the most recent version details.

    get_published_version

  4. Summarize changes

    The AI compares the versions and reports the status to you.

    get_preprint_versions

Try it

Copy these to start.

Use these prompts to kick off the tracking process.

Starting points

Replace the bracketed text with your specific bioRxiv DOI or preprint ID.

bioRxiv / medRxiv Connector

You're all set. Choose your MCP client and follow the setup instructions.

Connector linkhttps://edge.vinkius.com/vk_preview_R8JxkmJPzevAgvqw4i4OtBkJf9wep0OP4RxsB1tR/mcp

Claude Desktop

Follow the steps below to connect in seconds.

  1. 1In Claude Desktop, open Settings → Connectors.
  2. 2Click “Add custom connector” and paste the connector link above as the remote MCP server URL.
  3. 3Click Add and start a new chat — bioRxiv / medRxiv capabilities are ready to use.
Configuration · claude_desktop_config.jsonCopy
{
  "mcpServers": {
    "stanford-biorxiv-mcp": {
      "url": "https://edge.vinkius.com/vk_preview_R8JxkmJPzevAgvqw4i4OtBkJf9wep0OP4RxsB1tR/mcp"
    }
  }
}
Copy into chat04

  • Check the publication status for preprint DOI 10.1101/2023.01.01.123456.

  • Has this preprint [insert DOI] been published in a peer-reviewed journal yet?

  • List all versions available for the bioRxiv preprint [insert DOI].

  • Find the most recent version of the preprint with DOI 10.1101/example.123.

  • Claude
  • ChatGPT
  • Cursor
  • VS Code
  • Windsurf
  • Claude Code
  • JetBrains
  • Cline

Start here

Connect Stanford bioRxiv once, then ask.

One click connects the MCP to your client. Your credentials stay encrypted, and you can start asking questions immediately.

Connect Stanford bioRxiv to your AI

FAQ

How this task behaves.

  • 01

    Can the AI automatically email me when a paper is published?

    No. The AI can find the information and report it to you in your chat, but it cannot send external emails.

  • 02

    Does the AI update the bioRxiv website directly?

    No. The AI only reads data from bioRxiv. It cannot edit, delete, or upload any preprints.

  • 03

    Can I track multiple preprints at once?

    Yes. You can provide a list of DOIs and ask your agent to check the status for all of them.

  • 04

    How does the AI know if a paper moved to a journal?

    It uses the tracking tool to check if a formal publication record has been linked to the preprint ID.

  • 05

    Will the AI tell me the difference between versions?

    Yes. By pulling the version history, the AI can identify that a new version exists.

  • More questions about Stanford bioRxiv? The Connector page answers them. See everything the Stanford bioRxiv Connector can do

Connect bioRxiv / medRxiv to Claude, Cursor, ChatGPT & more