"Innovation sometimes comes from the most unexpected sources, and nothing proves this better than the groundbreaking work of Heman Bekele. This 14-year-old wunderkind from Virginia has developed something that seasoned scientists and pharmaceutical companies haven't quite cracked: an affordable soap that could potentially treat and prevent skin cancer. What makes his invention so revolutionary isn't just the concept but the elegant simplicity behind it, combining basic chemistry with sophisticated drug delivery systems in a way that makes you wonder why nobody thought of it before."
"The scientific community has certainly taken notice. Bekele's Skin Cancer Treating Soap (SCTS) earned him the 3M Young Scientist Challenge award with a $25,000 prize, landed him on TIME magazine's cover as their 2024 Kid of the Year, and most recently secured him the Gloria Barron Prize for Young Heroes with another $10,000 to support his research. Not bad for someone who still has to balance lab work with high school homework and marching band practice."
"Bekele's innovation journey started with his childhood observations in Ethiopia, where he witnessed countless people working long hours under the scorching sun without protective clothing or sunscreen. After his family moved to the United States, he connected these memories with what he learned about skin cancer risks and treatment disparities. The standard treatment, imiquimod cream, costs a staggering $40,000, putting it far beyond reach for most people globally. His brilliant insight? Create a vehicle that costs pennies but delivers the same active ingredient."
Heman Bekele is a 14-year-old from Virginia who created an affordable Skin Cancer Treating Soap (SCTS) that encapsulates imiquimod in lipid nanoparticles. The soap allows lipid nanoparticles to adhere to the skin during washing and remain after rinsing to deliver the FDA-approved immune-activating compound. The approach aims to replicate effects of expensive topical imiquimod cream at a fraction of the cost, addressing global treatment disparities. Bekele drew inspiration from childhood observations in Ethiopia of sun-exposed workers lacking protection. The invention earned the 3M Young Scientist Challenge, Time's 2024 Kid of the Year cover, and the Gloria Barron Prize for Young Heroes.
Read at Yanko Design - Modern Industrial Design News
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