scientific-skills/protocolsio-integration/references/additional_features.md
This document covers additional protocols.io API features including user profiles, recently published protocols, experiment records, and notifications.
All endpoints use the base URL: https://protocols.io/api/v3
Retrieve the authenticated user's profile information.
Endpoint: GET /profile
Response includes:
Example Request:
curl -H "Authorization: Bearer YOUR_TOKEN" \
"https://protocols.io/api/v3/profile"
Update profile information.
Endpoint: PATCH /profile
Request Body:
first_name: First namelast_name: Last nameemail: Email addressaffiliation: Institution or organizationbio: Profile bio/descriptionlocation: Geographic locationwebsite: Personal or lab website URLtwitter: Twitter handleorcid: ORCID identifierExample Request:
curl -X PATCH \
-H "Authorization: Bearer YOUR_TOKEN" \
-H "Content-Type: application/json" \
-d '{
"affiliation": "University of Example, Department of Biology",
"bio": "Researcher specializing in CRISPR gene editing and molecular biology",
"orcid": "0000-0001-2345-6789"
}' \
"https://protocols.io/api/v3/profile"
Update profile picture.
Endpoint: POST /profile/image
Request Format: multipart/form-data
Form Parameters:
image (required): Image file (JPEG, PNG)Recommended specifications:
Discover recently published public protocols.
Endpoint: GET /publications
Query Parameters:
key: Search keywordscategory: Filter by category
molecular-biology, cell-biology, biochemistry, etc.date_from: Start date (ISO 8601 format: YYYY-MM-DD)date_to: End dateorder_field: Sort field (published_on, title, views)order_dir: Sort direction (desc, asc)page_size: Number of results per page (default: 10, max: 50)page_id: Page number for paginationExample Request:
curl -H "Authorization: Bearer YOUR_TOKEN" \
"https://protocols.io/api/v3/publications?category=molecular-biology&date_from=2025-01-01&order_field=published_on&order_dir=desc"
Use Cases:
Experiment records allow users to document individual runs or executions of a protocol, tracking what worked, what didn't, and any modifications made.
Document an execution of a protocol.
Endpoint: POST /protocols/{protocol_id}/runs
Path Parameters:
protocol_id: The protocol's unique identifierRequest Body:
title (required): Experiment run titledate: Date of experiment execution (ISO 8601 format)status: Experiment outcome
success: Experiment succeededpartial: Partially successfulfailed: Experiment failednotes: Detailed notes about the experiment runmodifications: Protocol modifications or deviationsresults: Summary of resultsattachments: File IDs for data files or imagesExample Request:
curl -X POST \
-H "Authorization: Bearer YOUR_TOKEN" \
-H "Content-Type: application/json" \
-d '{
"title": "CRISPR Editing - HEK293 Cells - Trial 3",
"date": "2025-10-20",
"status": "success",
"notes": "Successfully achieved 87% editing efficiency. Increased sgRNA concentration from 100nM to 150nM based on previous trials.",
"modifications": "Extended incubation time in step 3 from 30 min to 45 min",
"results": "Flow cytometry confirmed 87% GFP+ cells after 72h. Western blot showed complete knockout in positive population."
}' \
"https://protocols.io/api/v3/protocols/12345/runs"
Retrieve all experiment records for a protocol.
Endpoint: GET /protocols/{protocol_id}/runs
Query Parameters:
status: Filter by outcome (success, partial, failed)date_from: Start datedate_to: End datepage_size: Number of results per pagepage_id: Page number for paginationEndpoint: PATCH /protocols/{protocol_id}/runs/{run_id}
Request Body: Same parameters as create, all optional
Endpoint: DELETE /protocols/{protocol_id}/runs/{run_id}
Use Cases:
Retrieve notifications for the authenticated user.
Endpoint: GET /notifications
Query Parameters:
type: Filter by notification type
comment: New comments on your protocolsmention: You were mentioned in a commentprotocol_update: Protocol you follow was updatedworkspace: Workspace activitypublication: Protocol was publishedread: Filter by read status
true: Only read notificationsfalse: Only unread notificationspage_size: Number of results per page (default: 20, max: 100)page_id: Page number for paginationResponse includes:
Example Request:
curl -H "Authorization: Bearer YOUR_TOKEN" \
"https://protocols.io/api/v3/notifications?read=false&type=comment"
Endpoint: PATCH /notifications/{notification_id}
Request Body:
read: Set to trueEndpoint: POST /notifications/mark-all-read
Endpoint: DELETE /notifications/{notification_id}
Export all protocols and workspace data from an organization.
Endpoint: GET /organizations/{organization_id}/export
Path Parameters:
organization_id: The organization's unique identifierQuery Parameters:
format: Export format
json: JSON format with full metadatacsv: CSV format for spreadsheet importxml: XML formatinclude_files: Include associated files (true/false)include_comments: Include discussions (true/false)Response: Download URL for export package
Use Cases:
Example Request:
curl -H "Authorization: Bearer YOUR_TOKEN" \
"https://protocols.io/api/v3/organizations/12345/export?format=json&include_files=true&include_comments=true"
Build a protocol discovery workflow:
# Search for relevant protocols
response = requests.get(
'https://protocols.io/api/v3/publications',
headers={'Authorization': f'Bearer {token}'},
params={'key': 'CRISPR', 'category': 'molecular-biology'}
)
# For each interesting protocol
for protocol in response.json()['items']:
# Get full details
details = requests.get(
f'https://protocols.io/api/v3/protocols/{protocol["id"]}',
headers={'Authorization': f'Bearer {token}'}
)
# Import to local system
import_protocol(details.json())
Track all protocol executions:
POST /protocols/{id}/runsBuild custom notification system:
GET /notifications?read=falsePATCH /notifications/{id}Keep profiles synchronized across systems:
GET /profileMost API responses follow this structure:
{
"status_code": 0,
"status_message": "Success",
"item": { /* single item data */ },
"items": [ /* array of items */ ],
"pagination": {
"current_page": 0,
"total_pages": 5,
"page_size": 10,
"total_items": 42
}
}
{
"status_code": 400,
"status_message": "Bad Request",
"error_message": "Missing required parameter: title",
"error_details": {
"field": "title",
"issue": "required"
}
}
Profile Completeness
Experiment Documentation
Notification Management
Publication Discovery
Data Export