TIME magazine has recognised 15-year-old Heman Bekele for his innovative work in potentially advancing skin cancer treatment.
The teenager, named TIME’s “Kid of the Year”, is being honoured for his efforts to develop an affordable soap that could revolutionise the way early-stage skin cancer is treated.
Bekele’s journey began in Ethiopia, where he observed the damaging effects of sun exposure on people’s skin. After immigrating to the U.S., a chemistry set he received at age seven sparked his interest in chemical reactions, leading him to think critically about sun exposure and its link to skin cancer.
“I didn’t think much of it when I was younger, but after moving to America, I realised the serious risks of prolonged exposure to ultraviolet radiation,” Bekele told TIME.
Inspired by existing treatments, Bekele focused on imiquimod, a drug known to treat certain skin cancers. He envisioned making it more accessible, particularly for lower-income communities.
Bekele developed a soap infused with nanoparticles loaded with imiquimod, allowing the drug to penetrate the skin effectively, even after rinsing. This innovative approach could drastically reduce treatment costs, compared to the $40,000 price tag of the existing cream.
Although Bekele’s soap is still in the early stages of research, his work has garnered attention from scientists and won him the 2023 Young Scientist Challenge, awarding him $25,000.
Bekele now conducts research at Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health under the guidance of molecular biologist Vito Rebecca.
Though it may take a decade for his soap to gain approval as a treatment, Bekele continues to refine his idea while balancing school, band and chess.
[Image via Dina Litovsky for TIME]