Getting Started with the Consensus MCP

Getting Started

Installation

🚧

Access to the MCP requires a Consensus API key which can be requested here: https://consensus.app/home/api

Consensus MCP supports multiple AI platforms including Claude Desktop, ChatGPT, Claude Code, Cursor, VS Code, and other MCP-compatible clients.

Authentication

Authenticated Access (API Key)

With a Consensus API key, you receive up to 20 papers per query.

To authenticate, include your API key as a Bearer token in the Authorization header:

Authorization: Bearer YOUR_API_KEY

Connecting to MCP Clients

Most MCP clients accept a configuration similar to:

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "consensus": {
      "url": "https://mcp.consensus.app/mcp"
    }
  }
}

Claude Desktop

1. Open Claude Desktop settings
2. Navigate to the MCP servers section
3. Add a new server with the URL: https://mcp.consensus.app/mcp

ChatGPT

Consensus MCP is available as a ChatGPT action. When enabled, search results display in an interactive widget showing top papers with links.

Cursor / VS Code

Add the following to your MCP configuration file:

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "consensus": {
      "url": "https://mcp.consensus.app/mcp"
    }
  }
}

Supported Tools

search

Search academic research papers using the Consensus API to find relevant peer-reviewed studies.

• Parameters

  Parameter	Type	Required	Description
  query	string	Yes	The research question or topic to search for. Use specific academic terminology for best results.
  year_min	integer	No	Exclude papers published before this year.
  year_max	integer	No	Exclude papers published after this year.
  human	boolean	No	Set to true to include only studies involving human subjects.
  sample_size_min	integer	No	Exclude studies with sample sizes smaller than this number.
  sjr_max	integer	No	Filter by journal quality (SCImago Journal Rank). Values: 1 = Q1 (highest), 2 = Q2, 3 = Q3, 4 = Q4.

• Returns

  The search tool returns a structured response containing:

  • query — The original search query
  • total_results — Total number of papers found
  • papers — Array of paper objects with:
    • title — Full title of the research paper
    • authors — List of author names
    • abstract — Full abstract text
    • journal — Journal name and publication details
    • year — Publication year
    • citation_count — Number of times the paper has been cited
    • url — Direct link to the paper on Consensus

• Example Prompts

  • "Search for research on the effects of climate change on biodiversity"
  • "Find recent studies (since 2020) on machine learning in healthcare diagnosis"
  • "Search for high-quality human studies on cognitive behavioral therapy for anxiety with at least 100 participants"
  • "What does research say about the effectiveness of remote work on productivity?"

Rate Limits

If you receive a 429 (Too Many Requests) error, wait before making additional searches.

Security Best Practices

Endpoint Verification

Only connect to the official Consensus MCP endpoint:

• https://mcp.consensus.app/mcp

API Key Protection

• Never share your API key in prompts or public conversations
• Store API keys securely using environment variables
• Rotate keys if you suspect they may have been exposed

Trust and Client Selection

Before connecting any MCP client:

• Verify the client is from a trusted source
• Review what permissions the client requests
• Understand that the MCP server will have access to search on your behalf

Data Handling

• Search queries are sent to the Consensus API
• Results include publicly available academic paper metadata
• No personal data is stored from MCP requests

Troubleshooting

• Connection refused

  Ensure your MCP client is correctly configured with the full URL: https://mcp.consensus.app/mcp

• API key invalid or expired

  Verify your API key is correct and has not expired. Contact Consensus support if issues persist.

• Rate limit exceeded

  Wait a few moments before making additional requests. Consider implementing backoff logic in automated systems.

• Request timed out

  The API has a 30-second timeout. Try a more specific query or check your network connection.

• No results found

  Try broadening your search query or removing filters. Academic papers may not exist for very specific or recent topics.

Supported Platforms

Additional Resources

• Consensus Website
• Model Context Protocol Specification
• Consensus API Documentation