# bioRxiv API

> bioRxiv returns bioRxiv and medRxiv preprint data as a workflow and API.

Search preprints finds bioRxiv and medRxiv preprints matching topic words in titles, abstracts, and subject categories. Provide topic words and optionally a server, posting date range, and result limit; results appear newest first, with journal details when available.

- Page: https://fous.com/workflows/biorxiv
- Handle: `@biorxiv`
- Category: [Science](https://fous.com/workflows/category/science)
- Source website: https://biorxiv.org
- Last verified: Sep 29, 2026
- Fous is not affiliated with bioRxiv.

## Methods

### Search preprints

Operation `search_preprints`, version 1. 1 credit per call.

Find bioRxiv and medRxiv preprints matching topic words within a posting date range, newest first. Published journal details appear when available.

**Input**

| Field | Type | Required | Example | Description |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| `query` | string | yes | `"breast cancer"` | Topic words to find in preprint titles, abstracts, and subject categories, for example gut microbiome depression. |
| `server` | string | no | `"medrxiv"` | Preprint server to search, for example both. |
| `end_date` | string | no | `"2026-09-28"` | Last posting date, inclusive, for example 2026-09-29. Defaults to today. |
| `start_date` | string | no | `"2026-09-27"` | First posting date, inclusive, for example 2026-09-01. Defaults to 30 days before today. |
| `max_results` | integer | no | `5` | Maximum number of matching preprints, for example 20. |

**Input schema**

```json
{
  "type": "object",
  "required": [
    "query"
  ],
  "properties": {
    "query": {
      "type": "string",
      "minLength": 1,
      "description": "Topic words to find in preprint titles, abstracts, and subject categories, for example gut microbiome depression.",
      "examples": [
        "breast cancer",
        "catechol dioxygenases",
        "zxqvunlikelyterm47911"
      ]
    },
    "server": {
      "enum": [
        "both",
        "biorxiv",
        "medrxiv"
      ],
      "type": "string",
      "default": "both",
      "description": "Preprint server to search, for example both.",
      "examples": [
        "medrxiv",
        "biorxiv",
        "both"
      ]
    },
    "end_date": {
      "type": "string",
      "format": "date",
      "description": "Last posting date, inclusive, for example 2026-09-29. Defaults to today.",
      "examples": [
        "2026-09-28",
        "2022-01-02"
      ]
    },
    "start_date": {
      "type": "string",
      "format": "date",
      "description": "First posting date, inclusive, for example 2026-09-01. Defaults to 30 days before today.",
      "examples": [
        "2026-09-27",
        "2022-01-01"
      ]
    },
    "max_results": {
      "type": "integer",
      "default": 20,
      "maximum": 100,
      "minimum": 1,
      "description": "Maximum number of matching preprints, for example 20.",
      "x-fous-developer": true,
      "examples": [
        5
      ]
    }
  },
  "additionalProperties": false,
  "examples": [
    {
      "query": "breast cancer",
      "server": "medrxiv",
      "end_date": "2026-09-28",
      "start_date": "2026-09-27",
      "max_results": 5
    },
    {
      "query": "catechol dioxygenases",
      "server": "biorxiv",
      "end_date": "2022-01-02",
      "start_date": "2022-01-01",
      "max_results": 5
    },
    {
      "query": "zxqvunlikelyterm47911",
      "server": "both",
      "end_date": "2026-09-28",
      "start_date": "2026-09-27"
    }
  ]
}
```

**Output**

| Field | Type | Example | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| `preprints` | array |  | Matching preprints, newest first. |
| `preprints[].doi` | string | `"10.64898/2026.09.25.26364003"` | Preprint DOI. |
| `preprints[].title` | string | `"Pixel-Level Quantification of Subcutaneous Shear-Wave Velocity Heterogeneity for Grading Lymphatic Obstruction in Breas` | Preprint title. |
| `preprints[].server` | string | `"medRxiv"` | bioRxiv or medRxiv. |
| `preprints[].authors` | string | `"Hoe, Z. Y.; Chou, C.-P.; Tzeng, Y.-D.; Ding, R.-S.; Pan, C.-T.; Lee, M.-C.; Lee, C.-H."` | Authors as credited by the preprint server. |
| `preprints[].journal` | string or null | `"G3: Genes\|Genomes\|Genetics"` | Journal name if subsequently published. |
| `preprints[].abstract` | string |  | Plain-text abstract. |
| `preprints[].pdf_link` | string | `"https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.64898/2026.09.25.26364003v0.full.pdf"` | Direct link to the preprint PDF. |
| `preprints[].date_posted` | string | `"2026-09-28"` | Date this version was posted. |
| `preprints[].journal_link` | string or null | `"https://doi.org/10.1093/g3journal/jkac008"` | Published journal article link if available. |
| `preprints[].preprint_link` | string | `"https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.64898/2026.09.25.26364003v0"` | Page for this preprint version. |
| `preprints[].subject_category` | string or null | `"radiology and imaging"` | Subject area. |

**Example input**

```json
{
  "query": "breast cancer",
  "server": "medrxiv",
  "end_date": "2026-09-28",
  "start_date": "2026-09-27",
  "max_results": 5
}
```

**Example output**

```json
{
  "preprints": [
    {
      "doi": "10.64898/2026.09.25.26364003",
      "title": "Pixel-Level Quantification of Subcutaneous Shear-Wave Velocity Heterogeneity for Grading Lymphatic Obstruction in Breast Cancer-Related Lymphedema",
      "server": "medRxiv",
      "authors": "Hoe, Z. Y.; Chou, C.-P.; Tzeng, Y.-D.; Ding, R.-S.; Pan, C.-T.; Lee, M.-C.; Lee, C.-H.",
      "journal": null,
      "abstract": "Objectives: To develop and validate pixel data analysis (PDA) for reconstructing pixel-level shear-wave velocity (SWV) from saved Holder-Optimized Elastography (HOE) elastograms and to determine wheth…",
      "pdf_link": "https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.64898/2026.09.25.26364003v0.full.pdf",
      "date_posted": "2026-09-28",
      "journal_link": null,
      "preprint_link": "https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.64898/2026.09.25.26364003v0",
      "subject_category": "radiology and imaging"
    },
    {
      "doi": "10.64898/2026.09.08.26362522",
      "title": "Epigenetic misprogramming of cell differentiation links transient viral infection to chronic diseases across tissues",
      "server": "medRxiv",
      "authors": "Friedenson, B.",
      "journal": null,
      "abstract": "Virus-induced epigenetic changes in stem-cell differentiation pathways emerge here as a shared mechanism linking fundamentally different chronic diseases, offering candidate biomarkers and new interve…",
      "pdf_link": "https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.64898/2026.09.08.26362522v0.full.pdf",
      "date_posted": "2026-09-28",
      "journal_link": null,
      "preprint_link": "https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.64898/2026.09.08.26362522v0",
      "subject_category": "genetic and genomic medicine"
    }
  ]
}
```

## Quick start

Call the API with a Fous API key (`FOUS_API_KEY`). To create one, turn on Developer mode in Fous Studio, then open Keys & connections → API keys (https://app.fous.com/keys).

```bash
# First set your key: export FOUS_API_KEY='YOUR_FOUS_API_KEY'
: "${FOUS_API_KEY:?Set FOUS_API_KEY before running this example}"

curl 'https://api.fous.com/v1/query' \
  --fail-with-body --silent --show-error --max-time 120 \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer $FOUS_API_KEY" \
  -H 'Content-Type: application/json' \
  --data-raw '{
  "api": "@biorxiv",
  "visibility": "public",
  "operation": "search_preprints",
  "version": 1,
  "input": {
    "query": "breast cancer",
    "server": "medrxiv",
    "end_date": "2026-09-28",
    "start_date": "2026-09-27",
    "max_results": 5
  },
  "response": {
    "format": "json"
  }
}'
```

```python
# Save as fous.py and run with python3 fous.py. No packages needed.
# First set your key: export FOUS_API_KEY='YOUR_FOUS_API_KEY'
import json
import os
import urllib.error
import urllib.request

api_key = os.environ.get("FOUS_API_KEY")
if not api_key:
    raise RuntimeError("Set FOUS_API_KEY before running this example")

body = json.loads("{\n  \"api\": \"@biorxiv\",\n  \"visibility\": \"public\",\n  \"operation\": \"search_preprints\",\n  \"version\": 1,\n  \"input\": {\n    \"query\": \"breast cancer\",\n    \"server\": \"medrxiv\",\n    \"end_date\": \"2026-09-28\",\n    \"start_date\": \"2026-09-27\",\n    \"max_results\": 5\n  },\n  \"response\": {\n    \"format\": \"json\"\n  }\n}")
request = urllib.request.Request(
    "https://api.fous.com/v1/query",
    data=json.dumps(body).encode("utf-8"),
    headers={
        "Authorization": f"Bearer {api_key}",
        "Content-Type": "application/json",
    },
    method="POST",
)
try:
    with urllib.request.urlopen(request, timeout=120) as response:
        result = json.load(response)
except urllib.error.HTTPError as error:
    raise RuntimeError(f"HTTP {error.code}: {error.read().decode('utf-8', errors='replace')}") from error
if result.get("success") is False:
    raise RuntimeError(result.get("error", {}).get("message", "Request failed"))
print(json.dumps(result["data"]["output"], indent=2))
```

```typescript
// Save as fous.mts and run with npx tsx fous.mts.
// First set your key: export FOUS_API_KEY='YOUR_FOUS_API_KEY'
const apiKey = process.env.FOUS_API_KEY;
if (!apiKey) throw new Error("Set FOUS_API_KEY before running this example");

const response = await fetch("https://api.fous.com/v1/query", {
  method: "POST",
  headers: {
    "Authorization": `Bearer ${apiKey}`,
    "Content-Type": "application/json",
  },
  signal: AbortSignal.timeout(120_000),
  body: JSON.stringify({
  "api": "@biorxiv",
  "visibility": "public",
  "operation": "search_preprints",
  "version": 1,
  "input": {
    "query": "breast cancer",
    "server": "medrxiv",
    "end_date": "2026-09-28",
    "start_date": "2026-09-27",
    "max_results": 5
  },
  "response": {
    "format": "json"
  }
}),
});
type ApiResult = { success: boolean; data?: { output: unknown }; error?: { message: string } };
const result: ApiResult = await response.json();
if (!response.ok || result.success === false) {
  throw new Error(result.error?.message ?? `HTTP ${response.status}`);
}
if (!result.data) throw new Error("Missing API response data");
console.log(result.data.output);
```

Or describe the data in plain language: send `{"api":"@biorxiv","prompt":"Describe the data you need, with every detail"}` to the same URL. Fous fills in the input, runs the method that fits and returns only the fields you asked for; `data.route.calls[].request` is the exact call it made. Routing is free; the run costs the same.

## Use cases

- Track new preprints on a research topic
- Review preprint abstracts and author lists
- Find preprints by posting date and subject area
- Identify preprints with published journal details

## FAQ

### Is Fous affiliated with bioRxiv?

No. Fous is not affiliated with bioRxiv. This workflow reads the public biorxiv.org website and returns its data.

### How much does it cost?

Each run costs 1 credit. With pay-as-you-go, a credit costs 1¢; monthly plans cost less per credit.

### Do I need a bioRxiv account?

No. You only need a Fous account.

### How current is the data?

Fous gets the data from biorxiv.org when you run it; repeating the same request within a day may return the saved result. Fous checks this workflow automatically; it last passed a check on Sep 29, 2026.

### Which preprints match my research topic?

Search preprints finds preprints matching topic words in titles, abstracts, and subject categories.

### When was a preprint posted?

Search preprints returns the posting date for each matching version.

### Has a preprint been published in a journal?

Search preprints includes journal details and a journal article link when available.

## Related

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- [All Science workflows](https://fous.com/workflows/category/science)