Every year, TIME Magazine selects an adolescent as their “Kid of the Year”. This is no easy task. To qualify for “Kid of the Year”, one must be between the ages of eight and 16. It is one of the most prestigious science awards for kids and signifies that the winner has made a significant positive impact on their community through a scientific field. Applications open as early as September and close in late May, and the winner is announced in August. However, TIME also looks for kids who don’t apply but make extraordinary contributions to the world. Kids must demonstrate service to others, outstanding achievement, and success in entrepreneurship. 

This year, 15-year-old Heman Bekele was selected. From a young age, Bekele knew the dangers of ultraviolet radiation on the skin, witnessing people work labor-intensive jobs all day in his home of Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Bekele was motivated to help these people after realizing they had no skin protection from the blistering sun. When he was four years old, Bekele’s family immigrated to Fairfax, Virginia. Moving to the United States helped him realize what he could do to help resolve the issue of skin damage. 11 years later, at just 15 years old, Bekele has been able to do what most people have not done in multiple lifetimes — he discovered a potential treatment for skin cancer.

Skin cancer is much more common than one may think. Approximately one in five Americans will develop skin cancer at some point in their lifetime. According to the American Academy of Dermatology, rates of skin cancer are multiplying, showing an increase of about 31.5% between 2011 and 2019. Skin cancer is also the most common form of cancer with over 9,500 people being diagnosed in the U.S. every day. 

There are many different forms of skin cancer, which affect the body in different ways. Basal Cell Carcinoma, or BCC, is the most prevalent form of skin cancer. Typically characterized by a pinkish patch of skin and most common on the head, neck, and arms, BCC usually develops due to years of unprotected sun exposure. The second-most prevalent form of skin cancer is Squamous Cell Carcinoma or SCC. SCC also develops due to long-term unprotected sun exposure, but often looks more like scaly patches of skin or sores. If left untreated, both BCC and SCC can penetrate deep into the skin, causing bone and nerve damage or even disfigurement. The deadliest form of skin cancer, however, is Melanoma, which has a high mortality rate due to its tendency to spread rapidly. Melanoma appears quickly as a mole or dark spot on the skin, caused by an excessive amount of melanocytes — the skin cells that give skin its natural pigment. 

However, Bekele may have found a way to subdue melanoma: through hand soap. “MTS [Melanoma Treating Soap] is a compound-based bar of soap and it’s charged with different cancer-fighting chemicals. The main one being this agent called Imidazoquinoline,” Bekele said during an interview with NPR’s Max Barnhart. Imidazoquinoline is a drug commonly used in antifungals and acne treatments but has recently been employed in the skin cancer field. According to Bekele, the soap is a light gray color with a bumpy texture and leaves a bit of a sticky residue — a product of the lipid-based nanoparticle that transports the drug into your skin. According to the National Library of Medicine, the drug activates the immune system, releasing signals called cytokines that act as an alarm. The “alarm” summons an excess of immune cells to the affected area, which can then detect and attack the abnormal skin cells. Even though he plans to make MTS widely available as soon as possible, Bekele’s initial plan involves distributing this soap to economically disadvantaged countries, since those areas may not have access to typical cancer treatments. This also means that MTS comes in biodegradable packaging to reduce the stress of having to recycle.

It was a long road, however, before Bekele got there. He originally read about the drug Imidazoquinoline a few years ago and began brainstorming ideas. Bekele then came across the 3M Young Scientist Challenge — an annual competition hosted by the technology enterprise 3M that encourages children in grades fifth through eighth to submit a one to two-minute video of their scientific invention/solution for a chance to win $25,000. He decided to submit his idea for the MTS, having no idea the impact this would have on his life. A few weeks later, Bekele received an invite to 3M’s headquarters in Saint Paul, Minnesota. That morning, he pitched his idea to the judges, and later that day, Bekele was named winner of the 3M Young Scientist Challenge, winning the grand prize of $25,000. That, however, was just the beginning. Although not FDA-approved yet, Bekele has a mission: “I have a really basic 5-year plan mapped out including acquiring FDA certification, conducting human testing and making sure that this all works. But then by 2028, I hope to turn this passion project into a nonprofit organization where I can provide equitable and accessible skin cancer treatment to as many people as possible.”

In February 2024, Bekele attended a networking event hosted by the Melanoma Research Alliance where he met Vito Rebecca, a molecular biologist at Johns Hopkins in Baltimore, Maryland. Bekele’s dedication immediately piqued Rebecca’s interest: “‘From the first conversation, his passion was evident. When I found out he lived very nearby in Virginia, I told him if he ever wanted to stop by the lab he’d be more than welcome.’” Rebecca said. Now, since February, Bekele and Rebecca have been working together, testing different skin cancer strains in mice against the MTS. 

Outside of his work time, however, Bekele also enjoys many everyday activities. He is a part of his school’s marching band, reads frequently, plays basketball, and adores chess. He attributes most of his success to his parents, eternally grateful for their bravery and strength in moving to a new country for their children’s education. Bekele himself also has developed quite a reputation in the science and teen community: “Nobody else is doing what he’s doing and it’s great that our generation is starting to make strides in curing diseases that do not currently have cures,” senior Ethan Brar said. Brar plans to major in biology through university and admires the path Bekele has paved: “Sometimes people doubt Gen Z because of our addiction to technology and such, but a 15-year-old is working on a cure for skin cancer and is miles ahead of people that have devoted their lives to the cause . . . This undoubtedly makes me more determined to do something that could impact the world . . . it all comes down to if you have the will to help people in need or not.” Brar said.