MCYR 2025 Storytelling Competition Winner Blogs
The 6th International Multidisciplinary Conference for Young Researchers (MCYR), hosted on 9–10 October 2025 by the BioResources and Technology Division (BRT) at the Faculty of Tropical AgriSciences (FTZ), Czech University of Life Sciences Prague (CZU), brought together emerging scientists from across the globe for two days of exchange, collaboration, and interdisciplinary insight. Centered on the theme “Science and Innovation: Advancing the Path to a Sustainable Future,” the conference provided a space for early-career researchers to present their work and reflect on how scientific innovation can create real-world impact.
Within this vibrant setting, the MCYR 2025 Storytelling Competition – “Your Research, Your Story” invited participants to reimagine their abstracts as compelling narratives linked to one of four European research projects: OSIRIS, COMUNIDAD, BIO-CAPITAL, and AgriSci-UA.
In the category OSIRIS: Open Science and Research Integrity, Richard Marfo from the Department of Information Engineering, Faculty of Economics and Management, CZU was recognised for his exceptional submission, “Building Trust in Healthcare: How Expert Systems Can Save Lives.” His story compellingly highlights how transparency, reproducibility, and responsible data use in healthcare technologies can enhance trust, improve decision-making, and ultimately save lives. The winning narrative brings the OSIRIS mission to life by illustrating why open science and research integrity are foundational to modern scientific practice.
Read his full story below.
Picture this: a doctor facing a complex case, juggling dozens of patient files, lab results, and treatment options, all while the clock is ticking. One wrong decision could have serious consequences. Now imagine having a smart assistant; an expert system that can quickly analyze data, suggest possible diagnoses, and even recommend treatment plans. My research explores how this kind of technology could transform healthcare, making it safer, faster, and more reliable.
Expert systems are not science fiction; they are real tools designed to support doctors in making critical decisions. Yet, despite their potential, many hospitals still hesitate to use them. Why? That question drove my study at the Czech University of Life Sciences Prague, where I surveyed 102 healthcare professionals and health technology experts to understand their perceptions and concerns.
The findings were enlightening. Most participants agreed that expert systems can improve diagnostic accuracy, reduce human error, and make treatment planning more efficient. Doctors and AI developers showed high confidence in these tools. But the study also highlighted real-world challenges: concerns about trust, transparency, data privacy, and how to smoothly integrate these systems into already busy clinical workflows. In short, technology alone isn’t enough; people need to trust it.
To illustrate, consider a patient with multiple chronic conditions arriving at an emergency department. The attending physician must quickly determine which condition is most urgent, what medications are safe given the patient’s history, and which specialist to consult all under immense pressure. An expert system could analyze the patient’s history, flag potential conflicts in medications, and suggest evidence-based diagnostic pathways, allowing the physician to focus on nuanced clinical judgment rather than being overwhelmed by data. This scenario shows how AI can complement human expertise rather than replace it.
This is where the OSIRIS European project becomes relevant. OSIRIS promotes transparency, reproducibility, and trust in science exactly what healthcare needs to safely adopt AI technologies. My research contributes to this mission by identifying what fosters confidence in expert systems: familiarity, proper training, and clinician oversight. When doctors understand how a system works and can see that it respects ethical standards, they are more likely to embrace it. Moreover, OSIRIS encourages open scientific practices, which ensures that the design and evaluation of these systems remain transparent, helping both professionals and patients understand and trust AI-driven recommendations.
The impact of this work goes beyond research papers. Imagine patients receiving faster, more accurate diagnoses. Imagine doctors making better-informed decisions without being overwhelmed. Imagine healthcare systems reducing errors and improving efficiency. By combining expert systems with principles of transparency and trust, we can bring this vision to life.
For me, this research is personal. I have seen how small errors or delayed decisions in hospitals can have real consequences. Being part of a project that could help doctors make better decisions, protect patients, and strengthen trust in science is incredibly rewarding. Participating in the MCYR 2025 Storytelling Competition gives me a platform to share this journey, to show that research is not just about algorithms and statistics; it is about people, lives, and the impact we can make beyond the lab.
Looking ahead, the adoption of trusted expert systems could reshape healthcare delivery globally. From rural clinics with limited access to specialists to urban hospitals handling high patient volumes, these tools can democratize access to high-quality care. Through this work, I hope to inspire other researchers and healthcare institutions to embrace ethical, transparent AI, and to demonstrate that technology, when trusted and responsibly implement, can truly enhance human decision-making. Together, we can build a future where innovation and trust go hand in hand, improving healthcare for everyone.
Link to authors ORCID: https://orcid.org/my-orcid?orcid=0009-0003-0491-0060
