Virginia student,14, crowned America’s top Young Scientist and awarded $25k after developing soap that treats SKIN CANCER

A 14-year-old boy has been named America’s Young Scientist of the Year for developing an affordable bar of soap that treats skin cancer.

Heyman Bekele, a ninth-grader at WT Woodson High School in Annandale, Virginia, competed head-to-head with nine other finalists in the 2023 3M Young Scientists Challenge, taking home the $25,000 grand prize.

Bekele created the anti-cancer soap by infusing medicated soap with three ingredients that were found to reactivate stem cells that generate an immune response to fight cancer.

Not only does his soap help fight skin cancer, but Bekele found that each bar of soap costs just $0.50, compared to the more than $40,000 needed for current medical treatments.

Over the next five years, Bekele hopes to refine this new innovation and create a non-profit organization to distribute this low-cost solution to communities in need.

Heyman Bekele, a ninth-grader at WT Woodson High School in Annandale, Virginia, competed head-to-head with nine other finalists in the 2023 3M Young Scientists Challenge and took home the $25,000 grand prize.

Bekele found that each piece costs just $0.50, compared to the more than $40,000 needed for current medical treatments.

“Skin cancer is mostly found in people living in developing countries,” Bekele said. Varifax County Public Schools.

But the average price of the operation is 40 thousand dollars.

“I am devastated by the idea of ​​people choosing between treatment and putting food on the table for their families. There are so many preventable deaths.

The teen began researching skin cancer and learning about stem cells, which he said help protect the skin by boosting the immune response.

The video Bekele submitted for the competition explains that the three ingredients, salicylic acid, glycolic acid, and tretinoin, are keratolytic agents that break down the outer layers of skin.

This allows Toll receptors, proteins that play a key role in the innate immune system, to be released into the skin that attach to and reactivate stem cells.

Bekele created the anti-cancer soap by infusing medicated soap with salicylic acid, glycolic acid, and tretinoin, which he found reactivated stem cells that generate an immune response to fight cancer.

Bekele calls the product Skin Cancer Treating Soap, or SCTS, which he said can be applied to the skin every other day after a prescription.

Stem cells combine with white blood cells to fight infected cells.

Bekele calls the product Skin Cancer Treating Soap, or SCTS, which he said can be applied to the skin every other day after a prescription.

Along with his title comes a $25,000 prize, which Bekele hopes to put toward a patent and a college.

He dreams of becoming an electrical engineer when he grows up.

“I envision myself leading a team of professionals in developing innovative electrical systems that will shape the future of technology,” Bekele said.

“Along with my professional success, I hope to have a fulfilling personal life with a loving family and a strong network of friends.

“I also hope that I have given back to my community by mentoring aspiring engineers and supporting initiatives that promote STEM education.”

“Ultimately, in 15 years, I hope I can make a positive impact on the world through my work and personal endeavors.”