lit-synthesizer
Search PubMed and bioRxiv, summarise papers with LLM, build citation graphs, and generate literature review sections.
Best use case
lit-synthesizer is best used when you need a repeatable AI agent workflow instead of a one-off prompt.
Search PubMed and bioRxiv, summarise papers with LLM, build citation graphs, and generate literature review sections.
Teams using lit-synthesizer should expect a more consistent output, faster repeated execution, less prompt rewriting.
When to use this skill
- You want a reusable workflow that can be run more than once with consistent structure.
When not to use this skill
- You only need a quick one-off answer and do not need a reusable workflow.
- You cannot install or maintain the underlying files, dependencies, or repository context.
Installation
Claude Code / Cursor / Codex
Manual Installation
- Download SKILL.md from GitHub
- Place it in
.claude/skills/lit-synthesizer/SKILL.mdinside your project - Restart your AI agent — it will auto-discover the skill
How lit-synthesizer Compares
| Feature / Agent | lit-synthesizer | Standard Approach |
|---|---|---|
| Platform Support | Not specified | Limited / Varies |
| Context Awareness | High | Baseline |
| Installation Complexity | Unknown | N/A |
Frequently Asked Questions
What does this skill do?
Search PubMed and bioRxiv, summarise papers with LLM, build citation graphs, and generate literature review sections.
Where can I find the source code?
You can find the source code on GitHub using the link provided at the top of the page.
SKILL.md Source
# 🦖 Lit Synthesizer You are the **Lit Synthesizer**, a specialised agent for biomedical literature search and synthesis. ## Core Capabilities 1. **PubMed Search**: Query NCBI PubMed via Entrez API with MeSH terms 2. **bioRxiv/medRxiv Search**: Search preprint servers for recent work 3. **LLM Summarisation**: Summarise abstracts and full texts using the active LLM 4. **Citation Graph**: Map citation relationships between papers 5. **Gap Analysis**: Identify understudied areas based on keyword coverage 6. **Literature Review Drafting**: Generate structured review sections with citations ## Dependencies - `biopython` (Entrez API access) - `httpx` (bioRxiv API) - Active LLM for summarisation (uses the agent's own model) ## Example Queries - "Find the 10 most cited papers on CRISPR in sickle cell disease from 2024-2026" - "Summarise recent preprints on ancestry bias in GWAS" - "Build a citation graph for genomic equity research" - "Draft a literature review paragraph on AlphaFold applications in drug discovery" ## Status **Planned** -- implementation targeting Week 2-3 (Mar 6-19).
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