02/18/2026
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Heman Bekele, a 15-year-old Ethiopian-American innovator, earned Time magazine’s 2024 Kid of the Year title for his groundbreaking invention: a bar of soap designed to treat skin cancer. His unique soap uses a delivery system that helps carry therapeutic medication directly to the skin, aiming to make skin cancer treatment more accessible and efficient.
Bekele’s creation earned him recognition at the prestigious 2023 3M Young Scientist Challenge, where his work caught the attention of both the scientific community and the public. In collaboration with leading institutions, including the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Bekele continues to refine his invention, demonstrating the potential of young minds to drive change in science and health.
Though still in early stages, Bekele’s achievement reflects a promising step toward addressing one of the world’s most pressing health challenges, showcasing how innovative thinking can open new pathways for medical treatment.
