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How to add the PubMed (Smithery) MCP server to VS Code (GitHub Copilot)

Server URL: https://pubmed.run.tools
Sign-in: We tested it with an API key sent in the api_key query parameter of the URL (a Bearer header was rejected in our test). Treat the full URL as a secret.
Our hands-on result: Partial 13 of 14 tasks passed, tested Oct 17, 2026 with MCP TypeScript SDK (reference client).

VS Code setup

File: .vscode/mcp.json

{
  "servers": {
    "ai-smithery-pubmed": {
      "type": "http",
      "url": "https://pubmed.run.tools?api_key=YOUR_SMITHERY_API_KEY"
    }
  }
}
  1. Save the file and click Start above the server entry. VS Code asks you to trust the server.
  2. Replace YOUR_SMITHERY_API_KEY with your key. No other sign-in is needed.

We ran the hands-on test in a reference client, not in VS Code. This config follows VS Code's documented format for remote (Streamable HTTP) servers. If it fails for you, tell us and we will retest.

Same server, other clients

Full PubMed (Smithery) test report | Compare all tested connectors | Connector Weather

How to add the PubMed (Smithery) MCP server to VS Code (tested Oct 17, 2026)