Creating an Account
BioQuery offers free accounts with limited queries, and expanded access for researchers.
Why Create an Account?
- Save Query History - Access your past queries from any device
- Share Results - Generate permalinks to share with collaborators
- Higher Limits - Free accounts get 2 queries/day (vs. example-only for anonymous users)
Sign Up Options
Google Sign-In (Recommended)
- Click Sign In or Get Started
- Select Continue with Google
- Authorize BioQuery to access your basic profile info
- You’re in!
Email Sign-Up
- Click Sign In or Get Started
- Select Sign up with Email
- Enter your email address
- Check your inbox for a magic link
- Click the link to complete registration
We use magic links instead of passwords for better security. Each sign-in sends a fresh link to your email.
Account Tiers
| Feature | Anonymous | Free Account | Researcher |
|---|---|---|---|
| View example queries | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
| Run new queries | ❌ | 2/day | Unlimited |
| Save history | ❌ | ✅ | ✅ |
| Share results | ❌ | ✅ | ✅ |
| API access | ❌ | ❌ | ✅ |
Request Researcher Access
If you need unlimited queries for your research:
- Contact us with your institutional email
- Briefly describe your research use case
- We’ll upgrade your account within 24 hours
BioQuery is free for academic research. We’re committed to supporting the cancer research community.
Managing Your Account
View Account Settings
- Click your profile icon (top right)
- Select Account Settings
From here you can manage your profile, research interests, and preferences.
Your Profile
Set up your research profile to help BioQuery personalize your experience.
Basic Information
- Name - Your display name
- Institution - Your university, hospital, or company
- Role - Your position (e.g., Postdoc, PI, Industry Researcher)
- Bio - Brief description of your research (optional)
Research Interests
Tell BioQuery what you study:
| Field | Purpose |
|---|---|
| Primary Cancers | Cancer types you focus on (e.g., KIRP, LUAD) |
| Genes of Interest | Genes you frequently study |
| Research Areas | Broader topics (e.g., immunotherapy, biomarkers) |
Research interests help personalize suggestions in Explorations and filter the Studies feed.
Query Preferences
Customize how BioQuery responds to your queries:
Default Baseline
When comparing cancer types, what should be the default comparison?
- Ask - Always ask me (default)
- Pan-Cancer - Compare across all cancer types
- Normal Tissue - Compare to GTEx normal tissue
Statistical Detail Level
How much statistical detail do you want?
| Level | Shows |
|---|---|
| Minimal | p-value, direction only |
| Standard | p-value, effect size, sample counts |
| Comprehensive | Full stats, confidence intervals, power analysis |
Explanation Style
How should results be explained?
- Clinical - Focus on biomarker/therapeutic implications
- Balanced - Mix of clinical and technical (default)
- Technical - Detailed methodology and statistics
Onboarding
New users see an onboarding wizard to quickly set up their profile. You can:
- Complete all steps for a personalized experience
- Skip and return later from Account Settings
- Update preferences anytime
Learned Preferences
BioQuery learns from your usage:
- Top Genes - Genes you query most often
- Top Cancers - Cancer types you investigate
- Preferred Analysis Types - Expression, survival, mutation, etc.
These are displayed (read-only) in your account settings and help improve suggestions.
Clearing Learned Data
You can clear learned preferences from your account settings. This resets BioQuery’s understanding of your research patterns.
Sign Out
- Click your profile icon
- Select Sign Out
Delete Account
To delete your account and all associated data:
- Go to Account Settings
- Scroll to Danger Zone
- Click Delete Account
- Confirm deletion
Account deletion is permanent. All your query history, projects, explorations, and studies will be deleted.