Heman Bekele is TIME magazine’s young trailblazer battling skin cancer with a game-changing soap

At just 7 years old, experiments with household chemicals were already being conducted by Heman Bekele, driven by curiosity. His passion for science was deepened when a chemistry set was received, leading to explorations of energy solutions—though an early experiment nearly resulted in a fire. A closer watch was kept by his parents, but his ambitions continued to grow.

Now 15, national attention has been captured by Heman as the winner of the 2024 3M Young Scientist Challenge, with a $25,000 prize being earned for the invention of a soap that could help treat and prevent skin cancer. Inspiration was drawn from childhood memories of laborers exposed to the sun without protection, leading to the pursuit of an accessible, cost-effective solution.

After learning about imiquimod, a drug used to treat skin cancer, an idea was envisioned to deliver it through soap—an everyday product used worldwide. To ensure the treatment remained effective, lipid-based nanoparticles were integrated, allowing the drug to stay on the skin after washing.

A breakthrough led Heman to a mentorship with Johns Hopkins scientist Vito Rebecca, where early research on mice is being conducted to test the soap’s effectiveness. Though the journey to FDA approval may take a decade, determination is maintained by Heman, with a balance being struck between scientific work, school, music, and sports.

Beyond research, a passion for innovation is shared by him, with a recent speech being delivered to thousands at a medical conference. His resilience is admired by his mentor, Deborah Isabelle, who notes his ability to learn from setbacks. His achievements have been further recognized, with TIME naming him Kid of the Year for 2024, a testament to his dedication and groundbreaking work.

For Heman, persistence and creativity define science. “There’s always something new to discover,” he says. “Keep inventing and improving the world.”