pm-search

Search PubMed via NCBI E-utilities and return structured PMIDs and metadata.

19|6|Updated Mar 3, 2026
One-click install
npx skills add https://github.com/cookjohn/pm-skills --skill pm-search
Or copy as Structured Prompt for Agent
Please help me install this Agent Skill.
Skill: pm-search
Source: https://github.com/cookjohn/pm-skills/tree/main/skills/pm-search
Command: npx skills add https://github.com/cookjohn/pm-skills --skill pm-search

SYSTEM DOCUMENTATION & REQUIREMENTS

What problem does it solve?

Finding relevant biomedical literature on PubMed and converting search results into a structured, machine-readable format is time-consuming and error-prone when done manually.

Core Features & Use Cases

  • Keyword search via NCBI E-utilities: performs esearch to retrieve PMIDs and esummary to fetch batch metadata.
  • Structured output for workflows: returns numbered results with PMID, title, authors, journal, pubdate, DOI, and pagination info for downstream tasks like reviewing, filtering, or exporting.
  • Use Case: quickly discover and list the top 20 most relevant papers for a research query, then open details, fetch full text links, or export selected items to reference managers.

Quick Start

Use the pm-search skill to search PubMed for gastric cancer and return the top 20 results with PMIDs, titles, authors, journal, publication date, and DOIs.

Frequently Asked Questions about pm-search

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

FAQPage Schema
How do I search PubMed and return structured metadata like PMIDs and DOIs?

To search PubMed and return structured metadata, use NCBI E-utilities (esearch and esummary) to retrieve PMIDs and batch metadata. This process returns numbered results with titles, authors, journal, pubdate, and DOIs for downstream workflows.

Can I automate biomedical literature discovery and fetch the top 20 PubMed results?

Yes, you can automate biomedical literature discovery by applying esearch to retrieve PMIDs and esummary to fetch batch metadata. This workflow quickly discovers and lists the top 20 most relevant papers for a research query with structured metadata.

What is the best way to convert PubMed search results into a machine-readable format?

The best way to convert PubMed search results into a machine-readable format is using NCBI E-utilities. It performs esearch and esummary to fetch batch metadata, returning numbered results with PMID, title, authors, journal, pubdate, pages, and DOI.

Does the PubMed keyword search workflow support pagination and navigating to search pages?

Yes, the PubMed keyword search workflow supports pagination and navigating to search pages. It uses Chrome DevTools MCP to navigate to PubMed search pages while paginating results and returning structured metadata for retrieved records.

How do I export selected PubMed records to reference managers after retrieving PMIDs?

After retrieving PMIDs and structured metadata via esearch and esummary, you can export selected items to reference managers. The workflow returns numbered results with DOI and metadata, enabling downstream tasks like reviewing, filtering, or exporting selected records.

Why does retrieving biomedical literature manually result in errors and time loss?

Retrieving biomedical literature manually causes errors and time loss because converting PubMed search results into a structured, machine-readable format is error-prone. Automating this with NCBI E-utilities ensures accurate, structured PMID and metadata extraction.