Retrieves scientific papers from PubMed and creates plain-language research summaries. Use when users ask about medical research, scientific studies, clinical trials, disease treatments, or want to understand recent scientific literature on any biomedical topic.

Medical Research Purpose This Skill retrieves scientific papers from PubMed and creates accessible, plain language summaries of current research on any biomedical or life sciences topic. It bridges the gap between complex scientific literature and general understanding. When to Use This Skill Automatically activate when users: Ask about scientific research on medical topics (e.g., "What's the latest on Alzheimer's treatment?") Want to understand current studies on diseases or conditions Request information about clinical trials or treatment approaches Mention specific research areas (immunotherapy, gene therapy, drug development) Ask questions like "summarize research on..." or "what does research say about..." Need to understand scientific consensus on health topics Instructions When generating a research summary, follow these steps: 1. Identify the Research Query Accept natural language queries (e.g., "immunotherapy for breast cancer") Clarify if the topic is too broad (e.g., "cancer" → suggest narrowing to specific type) Verify spelling of medical terms If ambiguous, ask for clarification before proceeding 2. Retrieve Scientific Papers Use the skill's built in pubmed search.py script located in .claude/skills/medical research/ : Default retrieves 10 most recent papers For comprehensive summaries, consider increasing max results in the script Capture paper details: titles, authors, abstracts, PMIDs, publication dates 3. Analyze and Synthesize Findings Review the retrieved papers and identify: 1. Main Research Themes What are the major topics being studied? What questions are researchers trying to answer? What approaches or methods are common? 2. Key Findings What are the main discoveries or results? What treatments or interventions show promise? What mechanisms are being investigated? 3. Clinical Implications How might this research affect patient care? What are practical applications? What changes to treatment guidelines might result? 4. Challenges and Limitations What problems remain unsolved? What resistance mechanisms exist? What gaps in knowledge persist? 5. Emerging Directions What new approaches are being developed? What future research is needed? What technologies are being applied? 4. Write Plain Language Summary Structure the summary for general audience understanding: 5. Save the Summary Automatically save as markdown file Use filename format: Research Summary {Topic} {YYYY MM DD}.md Replace spaces in topic with underscores Place in current working directory Confirm file location to user Quality Guidelines Content Standards Accessibility : Write at a 10th grade reading level Accuracy : Faithfully represent research findings; don't oversimplify to the point of distortion Balance : Include both promising developments and challenges Currency : Focus on papers from the last 1 2 years when possible Context : Explain why research matters and how it fits into bigger picture Clarity : Define medical/scientific terms; use analogies when helpful Language Guidelines Do: Use active voice ("Researchers found..." not "It was found...") Define abbreviations on first use (e.g., "TNBC (triple negative breast cancer)") Use concrete examples Explain mechanisms in simple terms Provide context for numbers and statistics Use analogies to explain complex concepts Don't: Use jargon without explanation Oversimplify to the point of inaccuracy Make claims stronger than the research supports Provide medical advice Use passive voice excessively Assume prior knowledge of biology/medicine Credibility Standards Objectivity : Present findings without bias Accuracy : Cite specific PMIDs and paper details Transparency : Note when information is limited or preliminary Disclaimers : Always include educational/non medical advice disclaimer Dates : Include publication years to show currency Examples Example 1: Treatment Research User request : Summarize research on immunotherapy for melanoma Expected behavior : 1. Run: python3 .claude/skills/medical research/pubmed search.py "immunotherapy melanoma" 2. Analyze ~10 recent papers 3. Identify themes: resistance mechanisms, combination therapies, biomarkers 4. Write plain language summary explaining immune checkpoint inhibitors, how they work, current challenges 5. Save as Research Summary Immunotherapy Melanoma 2025 12 13.md Example 2: Disease Mechanism User request : What does research say about Alzheimer's disease causes? Expected behavior : 1. Activate Skill automatically 2. Run: python3 .claude/skills/medical research/pubmed search.py "Alzheimer's disease pathogenesis" 3. Synthesize findings on amyloid, tau, inflammation, genetic factors 4. Explain competing theories in accessible language 5. Highlight controversies and ongoing debates 6. Save comprehensive summary Example 3: Emerging Technology User request : Tell me about CRISPR gene therapy research Expected behavior : 1. Run: python3 .claude/skills/medical research/pubmed search.py "CRISPR gene therapy clinical trials" 2. Focus on clinical applications, safety, efficacy 3. Explain CRISPR technology simply (e.g., "molecular scissors that can edit DNA") 4. Include specific examples of diseases being treated 5. Address ethical considerations if prominent in literature 6. Save summary with examples Best Practices Do's ✓ Start with broad overview before diving into details ✓ Use subheadings to break up long sections ✓ Include "Key Terminology" section for important terms ✓ Provide specific examples from papers ✓ Explain statistical significance in plain language ✓ Note when findings are preliminary or need replication ✓ Connect research to real world impact Don'ts ✗ Don't recommend specific treatments or medications ✗ Don't use unexplained acronyms (EGFR, VEGF, etc.) ✗ Don't ignore negative findings or failures ✗ Don't exaggerate promises ("cure for cancer") ✗ Don't skip the educational disclaimer ✗ Don't assume readers have science background ✗ Don't make summary too technical Handling Edge Cases Few or No Papers Found If PubMed returns few results: Highly Technical Results If papers are extremely technical: Controversial Topics For topics with conflicting research: Outdated Research If most papers are older than 2 years: Technical Requirements Tools to Use Bash : Run the pubmed search.py script Read : Optionally read papers or abstracts if more detail needed Write : Save the completed summary to markdown file WebFetch (optional): Retrieve full papers from PubMed if abstracts insufficient Search Strategy 1. Start specific : Use precise medical terms 2. Iterate if needed : Broaden or narrow based on results 3. Check paper count : Aim for 10 20 papers for comprehensive summary 4. Verify relevance : Ensure retrieved papers match the query 5. Note search date : Document when search was performed Script Modifications If needed, users can modify pubmed search.py : Increase max results for more comprehensive reviews Update Entrez.email with their email address Adjust abstract length display File Output Specifications Default Format: Markdown Content Requirements Minimum 800 words for comprehensive topics At least 3 major themes identified 3 5 key terms defined 3 5 papers highlighted Include all template sections Quality Checklist Before saving, verify: [ ] Summary is accessible to non scientists [ ] Medical terms are defined [ ] Key findings are accurate to source papers [ ] Clinical implications explained [ ] Challenges and limitations included [ ] Recent papers cited with PMIDs [ ] Educational disclaimer included [ ] Filename follows format [ ] All sections complete [ ] Free of unexplained jargon Related Resources PubMed : https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/ Biopython Entrez Documentation : For script customization MeSH Terms : Medical Subject Headings for refined searches NIH Plain Language : For accessibility guidelines Version : 1.0 Last Updated : December 2025 Maintained By : Vibe Project

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