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At just 15 years old, Heman Bekele has been named Time magazine’s “Kid of the Year 2024.” The reason? He is said to have invented a soap that can treat skin cancer. Find out who this little genius is!
At the age of 6, Heman Bekele received a chemistry kit for Christmas and began his first experiments. Since then, the boy has never stopped and has developed a real passion for chemistry. So much so that he is currently looking for a solution to treat skin cancer. Meet this young teenager, named ““Child of the Year 2024” by the Timeas well as his very inspiring journey.
A boy who has always been aware of the dangers of the sun
Since he was a child, Heman Bekele has been marked by images of workers working under the blazing sun, usually without protection for their skin. His parents always told him how important it is for the skin to be covered from UV rays.
He confides: “When I was younger, I didn’t think about it much, but when I came to America, I realized what a big problem the sun and ultraviolet rays are when you’re exposed to them for a long time.”.
This observation then prompted him to think about treatment solutions for skin cancer.
A treatment accessible to all, for just a few dollars
Motivated by his research, Heman Bekele participated at the age of 14 in the “Young Scientist Challenge” 3M and Discovery Education, and is receiving $25,000 to carry out his research. His challenge? To invent a soap that could one day treat and even prevent several forms of skin cancer at the earliest stages.
To do this, the teenager created a formula based on salicylic acid, glycolic acid and tretinoin. A chemical combination that reactivates dendritic cells that are essential to the immune system and detect potential pathogens. In order to prevent this formula from leaving with the soap foam during the shower instead of penetrating the skin, Heman Bekele had the idea of combining it with a lipid-based nanoparticle. The idea is that it persists on the skin even after rinsing!
An invention capable of changing the lives of millions of people
In this way, the young researcher thinks that a soap could be the ideal way to administer such a drug. Indeed, it is a simple method, and quite accessible for a few cents, not comparable to skin cancer treatments!
Heman Bekele speaks to the Time : “It’s absolutely incredible to think that one day my bar of soap could have a direct impact on someone’s life”. Although promising, it will be a few years before this treatment arrives on the market!