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Connect Claude Desktop

Claude Desktop is the reference MCP client. This walkthrough connects it to the hosted UbiMCP endpoint.

1. Locate your config file​

OSPath
macOS~/Library/Application Support/Claude/claude_desktop_config.json
Windows%APPDATA%\Claude\claude_desktop_config.json
Linux~/.config/Claude/claude_desktop_config.json

Create the file if it does not exist.

2. Add the UbiMCP server​

For the hosted endpoint, use HTTP transport:

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "ubi-mcp": {
      "url": "https://mcp.unibiointelligence.com/mcp",
      "transport": {
        "type": "http"
      }
    }
  }
}

3. Restart Claude Desktop​

Quit Claude Desktop entirely (not just close the window) and reopen it. The server should appear in the tools panel.

4. Test the connection​

In a new conversation, try:

List the enabled UbiMCP data sources and tell me which databases they cover.

Claude will use the discovery tools and respond with the enabled catalog. Then ask a real question:

Use UbiMCP to look up the top targets associated with non-alcoholic steatohepatitis in Open Targets.

Troubleshooting​

The server does not appear. Check the logs at:

  • macOS: ~/Library/Logs/Claude/mcp.log
  • Windows: %APPDATA%\Claude\logs\mcp.log

Most failures are JSON syntax errors in the config file or an unreachable URL.

The URL must end in /mcp. The correct form is https://mcp.unibiointelligence.com/mcp, not the bare host.

Claude Desktop requires HTTPS for remote servers. Use the full hosted URL: https://mcp.unibiointelligence.com/mcp.

Tools are missing. Contact support@unibiointelligence.com if tools are unavailable on the hosted endpoint.