Documentation
- Query Refinement
- Research Lenses
- AI-Powered Semantic Search
- Unbiased Computational Analysis
- Research Landscape
- Research Landscape Synthesis
- Trends and Momentum
- AI Research Assistant
- Citation-Grounded Answers
- Hypothesis Generation
- Methodology Generation
- Network Analysis
- Foundational Papers
- Hub Papers
- Bridge Papers
- Novel Leads
- PDF Export
Documentation
Query Refinement
BioSkepsis uses a conversational AI assistant to help you refine your research question before searching. This interactive process ensures your search is precisely focused on your research goals and generates optimized queries for your selected research lens.
How It Works
The query refinement process guides you through defining your research question:
- Initial Input: Enter your research topic or question in natural language
- Clarification: The AI may ask follow-up questions to understand your specific focus, scope, or context
- Proposal: The AI proposes a refined research question with a clear summary and main scientific question
- Confirmation: Review the proposal and confirm or request modifications
- Lens Selection: Choose your research lens (Fundamental, Applied, or Convergent) to generate optimized search queries
What the AI Helps With
During refinement, the AI assistant:
- Clarifies scope: Helps narrow broad topics to specific, searchable questions
- Verifies terminology: Can use Google Search to verify technical terms or answer specific questions
- Identifies focus areas: Helps you identify the most relevant biological context, disease model, or mechanism
- Proposes workflow: Suggests a research workflow including recommended features to use
Refined Query Output
After refinement, you receive:
- Summary: One-sentence summary of your research goal
- Main Question: The core scientific question to investigate
- Paraphrased Query: Optimized search query for the literature database
- Workflow Plan: Recommended order of features to use based on your topic
Query Suggestions by Lens
After confirming your refined question, selecting a research lens generates tailored search queries for different aspects of your topic:
Fundamental Lens Queries
Definition and Scope | Mechanistic Dissection | Experimental Strategy | Comparative/Evolutionary | Reproducibility Assessment | Consolidated Insight
Applied Lens Queries
Clinical Relevance | Therapeutic Landscape | Biomarkers and Diagnostics | Safety and Toxicity | Patient Stratification | Standard of Care
Convergent Lens Queries
Cross-System Relevance | Bench-to-Bedside Translation | Multi-Omics Integration | Precision Medicine | Systems Biology | Future Directions
Examples of Good Refinement
Starting from vague to specific:
- Initial: "cancer treatment" → Refined: "Role of immune checkpoint inhibitors in triple-negative breast cancer resistance mechanisms"
- Initial: "diabetes" → Refined: "Gut microbiome influence on insulin sensitivity in type 2 diabetes patients"
- Initial: "gene editing" → Refined: "CRISPR-Cas9 off-target effects and mitigation strategies in therapeutic applications"