MCP-GeneLabKG: Beta Testers Needed!

AWG Discussions
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We are looking for beta testers to test the up-coming Model Context Protocol (MCP) for the GeneLab Knowledge Graph (KG).

NO PRIOR EXPERIENCE NECESSARY!

If you’re interested in being a beta tester, please fill out and submit the sign-up form.

About MCP-GeneLabKG:
The GeneLab KG is a Neo4j property graph database containing gene expression, DNA methylation, and amplicon sequencing data and respective metadata from the OSDR repository. To make the GeneLab KG accessible to users without Cypher query expertise, we built MCP-GeneLabKG, an MCP server designed with customized tools to access and analyze data in the GeneLab KG through natural language interactions with their favorite AI assistant.

@AWGall

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CDSS subgroup project
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Anyone who would like to learn more about this MCP, is welcome to watch the recording (or read the recap) from the March 2026 HBISS seminar talk from @asaravia & @pwrose

https://awg.osdr.space/t/hbiss-recap-knowledge-graphs-for-space-life-sciences-peter-rose-ucsd-amanda-saravia-butler-ai4ls/3973

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I suggest adding a sentence that a subscription to the Chat Assistant of choice is required. Free plans don’t support MCP.

@asaravia

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Does the beta test require a paid Claude or ChatGPT subscription, or are there any free MCP-compatible clients that can be used for testing?
@asaravia

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The free version of Claude does allow you to download the Claude Desktop App and you can add built-in connectors (like pubmed) and you are allowed one custom connector for free (as of June 2026). See Use connectors to extend Claude's capabilities | Claude Help Center, which states “Free users are limited to one custom connector.” for details.

So you should be able to use Claude Desktop as your MCP client for free (which is what I would recommend), but there are other free MCP clients available. You can also get co-pilot for free with a GitHub subscription that you can run through an IDE such as VScode.

Note that the free version of ChatGPT does not allow you to add custom connectors for free, so if you are using ChatGPT desktop, you will need the paid version.

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