In a world struggling with the devastating impact of cancer, 14-year-old Texan Heman Bekele’s groundbreaking innovation has become a beacon of hope. His creation, a specialized soap with the potential to revolutionize cancer therapy, especially melanoma, has attracted global attention amid the fight against this ubiquitous disease.
The 3M Young Scientist Challenge was won by Heman Bekele, a 14-year-old student from Annandale, Virginia, for submitting a soap designed to treat skin cancer. Heman’s soap contains ingredients that have the ability to reactivate the skin’s protective cells, allowing them to fight cancer cells.
It is used to treat melanoma, one of the most common forms of skin cancer in the US.
The soap costs only about 50 cents to make, and over the next five years, Heman plans to refine his idea and start a foundation to provide the soap to underprivileged areas.
For his creation, Heman was named “America’s Best Young Scientist” and won a $25,000 prize from Discovery Education and 3M. Over the previous four months, this brilliant innovator competed against nine other finalists for the title of “America’s Top Young Scientist.”
Deborah Isabelle, a 3M product engineering specialist who serves as Heman’s mentor, said she was immediately struck by the passion and enthusiasm for the project. His “focus on making the world a better place for people he hasn’t necessarily even met yet,” was how she put it.
It takes months to create a working soap prototype. Heman calculated the soap recipe on the computer. The body’s unique cells are revitalized by a soap known as SCTS. These cells are killed by the cancer, but the soap revives them. Then these cells fight the cancer.
Isabelle explained that the soap restores the body’s strength to fight disease. “Skin cancer soap reminds the body to defend itself,” she said.
Unlike other creams on the market, SCTS stimulates unique skin cells to fight cancer cells. Heman’s soap invention, which costs less than $10 apiece, intends to provide access to skin cancer treatment for all. To become a symbol of hope, he intends to obtain FDA approval and create a non-profit organization to distribute SCTS. “There is still a lot to do,” he said.
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In conclusion, 14-year-old Heman Bekele’s remarkable innovation in creating a soap designed to fight skin cancer has received widespread attention and recognition. His pioneering soap, aimed at reactivating skin cells to fight melanoma, holds immense promise in revolutionizing cancer treatment, especially given its affordability and availability.
Heman’s determination to change the world through his invention and to win the title of “America’s Best Young Scientist” and the prestigious award is inspiring and commendable. With plans to further develop his creation and create avenues for its delivery to underserved communities, Heman’s vision goes beyond mere innovation; it is a tangible impact on global health.
With the support of mentors like Deborah Isabelle, Heman’s passion for creating solutions that can potentially change the lives of countless individuals battling skin cancer is evident. His soap, which re-enforces the body’s natural defenses against cancer cells, represents a paradigm shift in cancer treatment methodology.
Despite the hurdles ahead, including FDA approval and founding a non-profit organization, Heman remains undaunted in his quest to bring hope and accessibility to skin cancer treatments. His ambition to democratize this treatment, to ensure affordability and accessibility for all, is a testament to his commitment to serving humanity.
As we celebrate the success of innovators like Heman Bekele, it’s a reminder of the transformative power of youthful ingenuity and the potential for breakthrough discoveries to revolutionize industries and improve lives around the world. The story of Heman’s invention of soap stands as a beacon of hope, illustrating the immense impact that innovation driven by passion and compassion can have on society.