Overview
The NCI GDC MCP Server is an unofficial bridge that lets Claude Desktop and other MCP clients ask questions about cancer genomics data stored in the NCI Genomic Data Commons. It enables researchers to explore and analyze harmonized cancer genomic and clinical data without writing code. The server exposes an MCP endpoint at /mcp (and a legacy SSE transport at /sse) for remote access, and a local development URL at http://localhost:8787/mcp. It is designed for easy integration with Claude Desktop via a straightforward JSON config, so users can connect and query data types, fields, and schemas, and receive summaries, counts, and other insights. The project emphasizes accessibility and no-programming usage, with setup guidance and links to GDC and MCP quickstarts. The code is MIT-licensed with an academic citation requirement; publications using the software should reference CITATION.md.
Features
Natural language access to GDC data
Query cancer genomics data using natural language via MCP, without coding.
Claude Desktop integration
Connect Claude Desktop to the MCP server using a provided JSON config.
Remote MCP endpoint
Use the /mcp endpoint for MCP clients to access data.
Legacy SSE transport support
Option to use the SSE transport at /sse for compatibility.
Local development endpoint
Run a local server at http://localhost:8787/mcp for testing.
Data type and field discovery
Explore available GDC data types and fields and schemas.
Summaries and counts
Get summaries, counts, and other insights from queries.
No programming required
Use MCP and Claude Desktop without writing code.
Who Is This For?
- Researchers:Ask questions about GDC data using natural language tools.
- Data scientists:Explore data types and fields and derive summaries for analyses.
- Non-programmers:Use MCP clients (e.g., Claude Desktop) without coding to access GDC data.
