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alterlab-biorxiv

Search bioRxiv preprint metadata by keywords, authors, dates, and categories.

58|9|Updated Mar 16, 2026
Search Tags:#research#api#search#metadata#preprints#biorxiv#literature-review
One-click install
npx skills add https://github.com/AlterLab-IEU/AlterLab-Academic-Skills --skill alterlab-biorxiv
Or copy as Structured Prompt for Agent▼
Please help me install this Agent Skill.
Skill: alterlab-biorxiv
Source: https://github.com/AlterLab-IEU/AlterLab-Academic-Skills/tree/main/skills/databases/alterlab-biorxiv
Command: npx skills add https://github.com/AlterLab-IEU/AlterLab-Academic-Skills --skill alterlab-biorxiv

SYSTEM DOCUMENTATION & REQUIREMENTS

💡 This Skill requires requests, and includes scripts (resource) and references (resource) components.

What problem does it solve?

Finding and organizing relevant life sciences preprints is time-consuming when done manually. This skill provides a fast programmatic way to search bioRxiv by keywords, authors, dates, and categories and retrieve structured metadata for review and citation.

Core Features & Use Cases

  • Keyword, date-range, and author searches against bioRxiv to retrieve metadata such as doi, title, authors, date, category, and abstract.
  • PDF retrieval: download full-text PDFs for selected papers and offline analysis.
  • Use Case: streamline literature reviews, monitor author outputs, and track research trends over time.

Quick Start

Run the bioRxiv search tool to fetch papers matching your keywords and export results to a JSON file.

Frequently Asked Questions about alterlab-biorxiv

High-intent search queries and answers about installing and using this skill.

FAQPage Schema
How do I search bioRxiv preprints by keyword and author to get structured metadata?▼

You can search bioRxiv preprints by keyword, author, and date-range to retrieve structured metadata. The tool queries the official bioRxiv API and outputs JSON fields including doi, title, authors, date, category, and abstract.

What is the best way to download bioRxiv PDFs for offline literature reviews?▼

To download bioRxiv PDFs for offline literature reviews, use the tool's PDF retrieval feature to fetch full-text PDFs for selected papers. It also returns direct links to both HTML and PDF versions in the structured JSON output.

Can I filter bioRxiv search results by category and date range?▼

Yes, you can filter bioRxiv search results by category and date range. The tool supports optional category filtering alongside keyword and author searches to help you track specific research trends over time.

How does the bioRxiv API return preprint metadata for systematic search workflows?▼

The bioRxiv API returns preprint metadata for systematic search workflows by using the official details and pubs endpoints. It outputs structured JSON containing doi, title, authors, date, category, abstract, and links to HTML and PDF versions.

Do I need Python requests to search bioRxiv preprints programmatically?▼

Yes, you need the Python requests library to search bioRxiv preprints programmatically, as it is a required dependency. The tool uses it to query bioRxiv API endpoints and retrieve metadata for your literature review.

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