# Europe PMC MCP > Europe PMC connects your AI agent directly to over 33 million life science publications and research grants. Use this MCP to query PubMed articles and discover funding opportunities from major academic databases without switching tabs. ## Overview - **Category:** databases - **Price:** Free - **Tags:** life-sciences, biomedical, pubmed, open-access, research-grants ## Description This connection gives your agent access to the world's deep pool of biomedical knowledge. You can ask it about complex topics, like malaria vaccine trials or genomics, and it pulls evidence-based answers by searching millions of articles and preprints. Need to know what fields are available for a precise search? The MCP lets you check those metadata options first. It also helps track down research funding using the Grist database. When your agent gets stuck on where to look next, Vinkius makes sure it has access to all these different scientific databases in one place. ## Tools ### get_article_fields Lists all available search fields you can use when querying Europe PMC articles. ### search_articles Searches the entire repository of European PMC articles using your defined criteria. ### search_grants Queries the Grist database to find details on specific research grants. ## Prompt Examples **Prompt:** ``` Search for articles about malaria vaccine trials from the last 5 years. ``` **Response:** ``` I've found several recent articles on malaria vaccine trials. Notable results include 'Safety and efficacy of R21/Matrix-M' and 'Phase 3 trial of RTS,S/AS01'. Would you like the core details for these? ``` **Prompt:** ``` List all available search fields for Europe PMC articles. ``` **Response:** ``` I've retrieved the available fields. You can filter by 'AUTH' (Author), 'JOURNAL' (Journal Name), 'FIRST_PDATE' (Publication Date), 'ABSTRACT', and many more. Which field would you like to use for your query? ``` **Prompt:** ``` Find research grants awarded by the Wellcome Trust related to genomics. ``` **Response:** ``` Searching the Grist database... I found several grants from Wellcome Trust. For example, grant GID:206194 for 'Human Functional Genomics'. Would you like to see the institution details or the abstract? ``` ## Capabilities ### Search articles by topic The MCP searches millions of publications across multiple sources using advanced filters. ### Identify available search fields It retrieves the specific data points you can use to build highly precise, complex queries against article metadata. ### Discover research funding details The MCP searches dedicated databases for information on grants awarded by major funders. ## Use Cases ### A team needs to compare studies funded by different bodies. The researcher asks their agent for grants related to 'genomics'. The MCP uses `search_grants` to pull up a list of funding bodies, which they can then use in subsequent searches to narrow down article scope via `search_articles`. ### A student is writing a literature review on vaccine efficacy. The agent uses the MCP to search articles using `search_articles`, filtering by 'vaccine' and 'efficacy'. They then use `get_article_fields` to see if they can narrow the search down by specific journal names, making the results much tighter. ### A journalist needs quick facts on a scientific breakthrough. The agent asks for recent articles about 'malaria trials'. The MCP runs `search_articles`, retrieving not just titles but also abstract snippets and citation counts, allowing the journalist to get a full story fast. ### A compliance officer needs to check funding sources for an old paper. The agent inputs the study's title, then uses `search_grants` via the MCP to verify which specific grant ID funded that research, providing a clear audit trail. ## Benefits - Find relevant articles instantly. Instead of searching PubMed, you ask your agent to run the search using `search_articles`, getting results directly without leaving your environment. - Build highly accurate queries. Use `get_article_fields` first so your agent knows exactly which metadata points—like specific author names or publication dates—to filter by. - Track funding sources easily. The MCP lets you run `search_grants` to find out who awarded the money for a study, giving context beyond just the paper itself. - Get tailored data formats. You can tell your agent if you need basic article listings or deep core details when running a search, ensuring the output is always useful. - Eliminate manual database hopping. You keep all scientific literature and grant APIs consolidated in one place, letting your agent do the heavy lifting. ## How It Works The bottom line is that the MCP handles all the complex database calls; your agent just asks simple questions and gets direct answers. 1. First, let your AI agent use the available fields tool to see what search criteria are possible. 2. Next, tell your agent to run a specific query against articles or ask it to find grant details. 3. You get back structured data—the exact information you asked for, whether it's metadata or a list of grants. ## Frequently Asked Questions **How do I know what filters I can use with `search_articles`?** Run the `get_article_fields` tool first. This tells your agent every available field, like 'AUTH' or 'JOURNAL', so you can build a precise query. **Can I find grant funding using only `search_articles`?** No. For reliable funding records, use the dedicated `search_grants` tool. It queries the Grist database specifically for award details. **Does this MCP handle live conversational search? (using `search_articles`)** Yes. Your agent uses natural language to interpret your query, then translates that into a structured call using `search_articles` against the article database. **Is there a limit to how many grants I can search with `search_grants`?** The tool is designed to access large databases. You simply provide your criteria (like funder or topic), and it returns all matching records. **Does using this MCP require me to set up any API keys or credentials?** No. The service is built for public access, so you won't need to manage an API key when running tools like `search_articles` or `search_grants`. Just connect your AI client directly. **When I use the `search_articles` tool, what are the differences between 'lite', 'core', and 'idlist' results?** The result type dictates how much data you get back. Use 'lite' for quick counts or basic summaries; 'core' provides detailed abstracts for review; and 'idlist' gives only the unique identifiers, which is useful if you plan to process the articles later. **How can I use `get_article_fields` to build the most precise search query?** Running `get_article_fields` lists every available filter parameter. You can then combine multiple criteria, like a specific author and journal name, into one complex request for maximum precision. **If my search using the `search_grants` tool returns zero results, does that mean no grants exist?** No. Zero results means no record matched your exact criteria. Always check if you misspelled a funder name or if you should widen your date range before assuming nothing was found. **Can I sort article search results by citation count?** Yes. When using the `search_articles` tool, you can include sorting parameters in your query, such as `sort_cited:y` to prioritize highly cited publications. **How do I know which specific fields I can use to filter my searches?** You can use the `get_article_fields` tool. It returns a comprehensive list of all available search fields that can be used as parameters in your queries. **Is it possible to find funding information for specific researchers?** Yes! Use the `search_grants` tool and provide the investigator's name (e.g., `pi:name`) in the query to find details of grants awarded to them.