Heman Bekele, a 15-year-old from Virginia, has been honoured as the 2024 Kid of the Year by Time magazine and Time for Kids. Bekele’s groundbreaking innovation is a soap that could significantly enhance skin cancer treatments. His creation aims to provide a more accessible method for delivering medication to treat skin cancers, including melanoma.
Inspiration and Early Beginnings
Bekele’s interest in skin cancer research began in his childhood in Ethiopia, where he observed the harmful effects of sun exposure on people’s skin. His curiosity about chemical reactions was sparked by a chemistry set he received as a Christmas gift in the US. This early exposure led him to explore the potential of using imiquimod, a drug already approved for some skin cancer treatments.
Innovative Approach
Determined to make a difference, Bekele developed a soap that incorporates imiquimod to treat the early stages of skin cancer. He believes that soap is an ideal delivery method because it is widely used and accessible. Despite the soap being in the early stages of development, with a decade-long approval process ahead, Bekele is already sharing his work through presentations and maintaining a balance with his interests in marching band and chess.
Future Prospects
While the soap’s path to becoming an approved cancer treatment is long, Bekele’s dedication to skin cancer research and innovation marks him as a promising young scientist with the potential to impact medical treatments significantly.
