British Heart Foundation Embraces AI to Advance Heart Disease Research
The British Heart Foundation (BHF), a leading funder of cardiovascular research in Europe, is utilizing Microsoft 365 Copilot to enhance its operations and accelerate groundbreaking discoveries. The nonprofit organization is testing the AI assistant with approximately 300 employees, aiming to improve efficiency across various tasks.
BHF funds critical research to combat heart and circulatory diseases, which affect millions globally. Annually, the organization allocates over £100 million to cutting-edge research projects. Examples of ongoing initiatives include projects that correct genes causing inherited heart disease and develop AI models for identifying patients at high risk of heart attack. Now, they’re using AI to streamline internal processes, too.
“Technology plays a part in everything we do at the British Heart Foundation, and everything we do is experimentation,” explains Alex Duncan, Chief Technology Officer at BHF. “So when Copilot was introduced to us, my question was, how quickly can we get this?”
Streamlining Operations and Boosting Productivity
In its initial testing phase, BHF staff members are using Microsoft 365 Copilot to manage communications, create documents, and search across the organization’s tech platforms. Preliminary findings estimate the AI tool could save employees up to 30 minutes per day, which would allow them more time for collaborative efforts, large-scale projects, and fostering a culture of innovation.
“We wanted to be at the forefront of this Microsoft technology because we can see the opportunities for us,” Duncan adds.
Thomas Sorensen, Technology Innovation Manager at BHF, notes, “Microsoft 365 Copilot is helping us be more efficient so we can work harder and faster on our mission.”
Enhancing Employee Experience
BHF emphasizes the importance of leveraging technological advances, as the organization’s mission to improve care for the millions affected by cardiovascular conditions becomes ever more urgent. Duncan stated, “I think AI is going to change the way we do everything.”
Employees involved in the pilot project are using Microsoft 365 Copilot to delegate tasks, write preliminary drafts of reports, and summarize information from meetings and documents. Sorensen explains, “We’re noticing that Microsoft 365 Copilot reduces cognitive load and enables them to focus on the difficult challenges they’re here to solve.”
Peter Ugbashi, a Technology Graduate at BHF, says, “At BHF, we pride ourselves in being collaborative. So with the time I save with Copilot, I invest that time in helping my colleagues.” He adds that Copilot’s coaching features have increased his confidence in professional communications.
Promoting Ethical and Secure AI Use
To ensure the ethical and safe use of AI, BHF has established a working group to define strategies and policies. They are exploring the built-in security features of Microsoft 365 Copilot in tandem with emerging organizational AI policies. The AI assistant is deployed within BHF’s own instance, ensuring its internal data is not shared publicly. Duncan said, “Microsoft 365 Copilot brings a lot of security that you won’t get from other AI tools.”
Fostering a Culture of Innovation and Inclusion
BHF aims to foster a culture of innovation, granting licenses for Microsoft 365 Copilot to staff members across all departments. This move underscores the organization’s commitment to inclusion. Pilot participants also use Teams transcripts and meeting summaries to stay informed. Sørensen notes that drafting features within Word, Outlook, and PowerPoint are especially helpful to neurodiverse colleagues.
Looking ahead, BHF is exploring the development of a Microsoft Copilot Studio prototype. Sorensen offers advice to other organizations considering AI implementation, stating “Get started as early as you can. Use it as an engine for innovation.”
