# MCP-GeneLabKG: Beta Testers Needed! **URL:** \ **Category:** AWG Discussions\ **Tags:** aiml, data-mining, plantawg, multiomicsawg, animalawg, aimlawg, microbesawg, awg, brainawg, beta-testing, space-epi-awg\ **Created:** [June 19, 2026, 12:44am UTC](https://awg.osdr.space/t/mcp-genelabkg-beta-testers-needed/4237 "2026-06-19T00:44:32Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 12\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![asaravia](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex001/user_avatar/awg.osdr.space/asaravia/32/290_2.png) [@asaravia](https://awg.osdr.space/u/asaravia)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2026, 12:44am UTC](https://awg.osdr.space/t/mcp-genelabkg-beta-testers-needed/4237/1 "2026-06-19T00:44:32Z")
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](https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfj2ygUDLhi80tq8BAfOTxpK7qWt2Xl27L2MF7qIItBfiIOxg/viewform).** **About MCP-GeneLabKG:** The GeneLab KG is a [Neo4j property graph database](https://neo4j.com/docs/getting-started/graph-database/) containing gene expression, DNA methylation, and amplicon sequencing data and respective metadata from the [OSDR repository](https://osdr.nasa.gov/bio/repo/). 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](https://awg.osdr.space/groups/awgall) ---
**Author:** ![rtscott2001](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex001/user_avatar/awg.osdr.space/rtscott2001/32/5_2.png) [@rtscott2001](https://awg.osdr.space/u/rtscott2001)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2026, 4:55am UTC](https://awg.osdr.space/t/mcp-genelabkg-beta-testers-needed/4237/2 "2026-06-19T04:55:32Z")
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](https://awg.osdr.space/t/hbiss-recap-knowledge-graphs-for-space-life-sciences-peter-rose-ucsd-amanda-saravia-butler-ai4ls/3973) > [@HBISS Recap: Knowledge Graphs for Space Life Sciences; Peter Rose (UCSD) & Amanda Saravia-Butler (AI4LS)](https://awg.osdr.space/t/hbiss-recap-knowledge-graphs-for-space-life-sciences-peter-rose-ucsd-amanda-saravia-butler-ai4ls/3973): > > [HBISS](https://www.nasa.gov/ames/space-biosciences/research-branch/artificial-intelligence-for-life-in-space/hbiss/) Recap: Knowledge Graphs for Space Life Sciences; Peter Rose (UCSD) & Amanda Saravia-Butler ([AI4LS](https://www.nasa.gov/ames/space-biosciences/research-branch/artificial-intelligence-for-life-in-space/)) [@AWGall](https://awg.osdr.space/groups/awgall) March 12, 2026 Today’s Horizons in Biosciences and Informatics Seminar series ([HBISS](https://www.nasa.gov/ames/space-biosciences/research-branch/artificial-intelligence-for-life-in-space/hbiss/)) featured @asaravia and Peter Rose presenting on the GeneLab Knowledge Graph and how Model Context Protocol (MCP) servers can connect it to external knowledge graphs using natural language queries. [Here is the recording if you missed the meeting](https://drive.google.com/file/d/1GJtbq9hEkCXX8gfJ47Fw5QTOV9k7amH1/view?usp=drive_link) (I hit record a few mins after the meeting began, sor… ---
**Author:** ![pwrose](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex001/user_avatar/awg.osdr.space/pwrose/32/4164_2.png) [@pwrose](https://awg.osdr.space/u/pwrose)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2026, 7:21pm UTC](https://awg.osdr.space/t/mcp-genelabkg-beta-testers-needed/4237/3 "2026-06-19T19:21:40Z")
I suggest adding a sentence that a subscription to the Chat Assistant of choice is required. Free plans don’t support MCP. @asaravia ---
**Author:** ![cephas\_coots](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex001/user_avatar/awg.osdr.space/cephas_coots/32/4935_2.png) [@cephas\_coots](https://awg.osdr.space/u/cephas_coots)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2026, 4:49pm UTC](https://awg.osdr.space/t/mcp-genelabkg-beta-testers-needed/4237/4 "2026-06-20T16:49:35Z")
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 ---
**Author:** ![asaravia](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex001/user_avatar/awg.osdr.space/asaravia/32/290_2.png) [@asaravia](https://awg.osdr.space/u/asaravia)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2026, 3:51pm UTC](https://awg.osdr.space/t/mcp-genelabkg-beta-testers-needed/4237/5 "2026-06-22T15:51:33Z")
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](https://support.claude.com/en/articles/11176164-use-connectors-to-extend-claude-s-capabilities), 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. ---
**Author:** ![asaravia](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex001/user_avatar/awg.osdr.space/asaravia/32/290_2.png) [@asaravia](https://awg.osdr.space/u/asaravia)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2026, 10:34pm UTC](https://awg.osdr.space/t/mcp-genelabkg-beta-testers-needed/4237/6 "2026-10-19T22:34:21Z")
Hi [@AWGall](https://awg.osdr.space/groups/awgall), We will be running the MCP-GeneLab beta test from **Thursday, 10/22 - Friday, 11/13**. If you are interested in being a beta tester and have not signed up yet, **please fill out and submit the [sign-up form](https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfj2ygUDLhi80tq8BAfOTxpK7qWt2Xl27L2MF7qIItBfiIOxg/viewform) by Wednesday, 10/21.** I will send an e-mail with instructions to everyone who siged up on Thursday, 10/22. _Only sign up to participate in the beta test if you will have ~2-3 hours to complete the test by 11/13_. ---
**Author:** ![fe-de-errata](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex001/user_avatar/awg.osdr.space/fe-de-errata/32/4791_2.png) [@fe-de-errata](https://awg.osdr.space/u/fe-de-errata)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2026, 10:46pm UTC](https://awg.osdr.space/t/mcp-genelabkg-beta-testers-needed/4237/7 "2026-10-19T22:46:40Z")
Is there any computational requirement to test the MCP? Sorry, I’m new into this ---
**Author:** ![Ludgenstein](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex001/user_avatar/awg.osdr.space/ludgenstein/32/2048_2.png) [@Ludgenstein](https://awg.osdr.space/u/Ludgenstein)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2026, 11:43pm UTC](https://awg.osdr.space/t/mcp-genelabkg-beta-testers-needed/4237/8 "2026-10-19T23:43:51Z")
I’m interested in running this Lab. I already fill the form. Thank you very much, @asaravia, for this new opportunity to collaborate with your reseach. Very much appreciated! ---
**Author:** ![Pariton\_L](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex001/user_avatar/awg.osdr.space/pariton_l/32/4315_2.png) [@Pariton\_L](https://awg.osdr.space/u/Pariton_L)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2026, 2:29am UTC](https://awg.osdr.space/t/mcp-genelabkg-beta-testers-needed/4237/9 "2026-10-20T02:29:12Z")
I have filled the form, Ma’am! Looking forward to seeing if I could contribute in any way! ---
**Author:** ![DevikaSG](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex001/user_avatar/awg.osdr.space/devikasg/32/4282_2.png) [@DevikaSG](https://awg.osdr.space/u/DevikaSG)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2026, 3:10pm UTC](https://awg.osdr.space/t/mcp-genelabkg-beta-testers-needed/4237/10 "2026-10-21T15:10:32Z")
Hi, I just submitted the sign-up form. I’m fairly new to this specific area, but I’ve got my MCP client all set up and I’m really looking forward to testing out the Knowledge Graph. ---
**Author:** ![rtscott2001](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex001/user_avatar/awg.osdr.space/rtscott2001/32/5_2.png) [@rtscott2001](https://awg.osdr.space/u/rtscott2001)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2026, 3:13pm UTC](https://awg.osdr.space/t/mcp-genelabkg-beta-testers-needed/4237/11 "2026-10-21T15:13:17Z")
Great! We need many different perspectives and levels of expertise, so this is great. THanks @DevikaSG and all! ---
**Author:** ![VanessaMontiel](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex001/user_avatar/awg.osdr.space/vanessamontiel/32/3858_2.png) [@VanessaMontiel](https://awg.osdr.space/u/VanessaMontiel)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2026, 6:10am UTC](https://awg.osdr.space/t/mcp-genelabkg-beta-testers-needed/4237/12 "2026-10-31T06:10:42Z")
[vaaneehmr@gmail.com](mailto:vaaneehmr@gmail.com)