# Harvard ClinicalTrials MCP > Harvard ClinicalTrials lets you search and pull data from ClinicalTrials.gov, the massive database tracking global clinical studies. You can filter results by disease, drug, location, or study phase to pinpoint evidence for research, treatment decisions, or competitive analysis. ## Overview - **Category:** data-analytics - **Price:** Free - **Tags:** clinical-trials, medical-research, drug-development, public-health, data-retrieval, disease-tracking ## Description This MCP connects your AI agent directly to ClinicalTrials.gov API v2, giving you access to one of the world's largest databases of registered clinical studies. Instead of wading through general academic literature, you pull structured data about real-world drug development and research efforts. You can track specific medical conditions, like diabetes or rare diseases, across thousands of trials globally. Need to know if a new treatment is being tested by a major organization? You can search by sponsor (like NIH or Pfizer) or filter only for FDA-regulated device studies. The tool lets you pull detailed study records—including eligibility criteria and outcome data from completed phases—and even map out the timeline of a specific investigation. When integrated into Vinkius, your AI client treats this vast dataset like an indexed resource, turning complex filtering tasks into simple prompts. ## Tools ### get_api_version Checks the data source version and when the information was last updated to confirm its currency. ### get_study Retrieves all details for a specific trial using its official NCT identifier. ### get_study_results Pulls the primary outcome data, useful primarily for studies that have finished Phase 2 or higher. ### get_study_timeline Maps out key dates and progress points to understand how far along a study is in its development cycle. ### search_by_condition Finds trials that specifically target a named disease, like cancer or depression. ### search_by_intervention Searches for studies involving a specific drug, therapy, or treatment type. ### search_by_location Narrows the search results to trials accessible in a particular city or country. ### search_by_phase Filters results by the drug development stage, such as Phase 1 (safety) or Phase 3 (definitive testing). ### search_by_sponsor Limits the search to trials backed by a specific organization like Pfizer or NIH. ### search_completed Retrieves only studies that have finished, increasing the chance of finding published outcomes data. ### search_device_trials Finds research focused on medical equipment, implants, or digital health tools. ### search_fda_regulated Filters results to include only studies that adhere to strict U.S. Food and Drug Administration standards. ### search_pediatric Focuses the search on trials designed for children or adolescents. ### search_rare_diseases Identifies research efforts dedicated to uncommon conditions, such as cystic fibrosis. ### search_recruiting Finds studies that are currently enrolling participants and accepting applications. ### search_studies Performs a broad search across the entire database for basic study metadata. ## Prompt Examples **Prompt:** ``` Find recruiting Phase 3 trials for breast cancer immunotherapy ``` **Response:** ``` I've found Phase 3 clinical trials for breast cancer immunotherapy that are currently recruiting participants, including studies testing checkpoint inhibitors and combination therapies. ``` **Prompt:** ``` Search for Alzheimer's disease trials sponsored by NIH in Boston ``` **Response:** ``` I've found NIH-sponsored Alzheimer's disease trials in Boston, including studies on amyloid-targeting therapies and cognitive interventions at major research hospitals. ``` **Prompt:** ``` Find pediatric clinical trials for cystic fibrosis ``` **Response:** ``` I've searched for pediatric cystic fibrosis trials, including CFTR modulator studies and gene therapy trials enrolling children and adolescents. ``` ## Capabilities ### Identify active study enrollment Find trials that are currently accepting new participants. ### Filter by disease or drug Narrow searches down to specific medical conditions or treatments, like immunotherapy or cystic fibrosis care. ### Track development stages Limit results to a particular phase of research (Phase 1 through Phase 4). ### Get detailed trial records Pull comprehensive information about a single study, including its sponsor and locations. ### Search for medical devices Isolate studies focusing on implants, diagnostic tools, or surgical technology. ## Use Cases ### Evaluating a new drug's viability A pharma analyst needs to see if any competitors are testing similar compounds. They ask their agent to combine `search_by_sponsor` (for known rivals) with `search_by_intervention` (for the specific compound). The system returns all relevant trials, providing a clear view of the competitive landscape. ### Assisting an eligible patient A physician wants to find local options. They ask their agent to use `search_by_pediatric` and combine it with `search_by_location`. The result pinpoints available, child-specific trials in the patient's county. ### Completing a medical literature review A researcher needs to synthesize evidence. They start by using `search_studies` for a broad overview, then refine it by combining `search_by_condition` (e.g., 'cystic fibrosis') and `search_completed` to ensure they only analyze final results. ### Checking on the status of an old study A clinician is curious about a trial from five years ago. They use `get_study_timeline` on the NCT ID to see if it was ever updated or completed, giving them confidence in the data's currency. ## Benefits - Pinpoint exactly where drug development stands by using `search_by_phase` to filter results between Phase 1 and Phase 4, avoiding irrelevant or preliminary studies. - Stop guessing who's doing the work. Use `search_by_sponsor` to track specific organizations like Novartis or Roche, allowing you to map out a competitor’s entire research pipeline in one go. - For patient care, use `search_by_condition` and combine it with `search_by_location` to find active trials for diseases like Alzheimer's near a specific zip code. This is far more targeted than reading general literature. - Get the full picture of a single investigation by using `get_study`, which pulls title, status, conditions, and interventions all in one place, giving you immediate context on the trial’s scope. - The ability to search for medical devices separately with `search_device_trials` lets you focus only on hardware or implant studies, keeping your analysis clean and highly specialized. ## How It Works The bottom line is, you get immediate access to highly specific, globally registered clinical data without manually querying the federal database. 1. You tell your agent exactly what you're looking for—for instance, 'Phase 3 trials for hypertension near Boston.' 2. The MCP translates that request into structured API calls, cross-referencing criteria like location, phase, and condition. 3. Your agent receives a filtered list of results containing key details, which it then presents to you in plain language. ## Frequently Asked Questions **How do I find trials for a specific disease using Harvard ClinicalTrials MCP?** You use the `search_by_condition` tool. This lets you input major diseases, like 'breast cancer' or 'hypertension,' to pull all relevant studies registered across the globe. **Can I find out if a drug is undergoing testing in my area using Harvard ClinicalTrials MCP?** Yes. Combine `search_by_condition` with `search_by_location`. This combination narrows down studies to both the disease and your specific geographic region. **What if I only want to see trials that are finished? Should I use search_completed?** Using `search_completed` is the most direct way. It filters out all active or planned studies, giving you a list more likely to contain published outcome data from the past. **How do I check which company sponsors a certain type of trial using Harvard ClinicalTrials MCP?** Use `search_by_sponsor`. You can input an organization name, like 'Pfizer,' to see every study they are currently overseeing or have completed. **Does the Harvard ClinicalTrials MCP include data for medical implants and devices?** Yes. If you're interested in hardware—like surgical tools or diagnostics—use `search_device_trials` to filter out drug-based studies entirely.