Heman Bakele, 15 years old, is the young scientist who has created a soap that could help fight skin cancer reactivating immune cells
At only 15 years old, Heman Bakelestudent of Annandale, in Virginia, was appointed Top America’s Young Scientistconquering the first place to the prestigious Young Scientist Challenge organized by 3M. In addition to the title, the boy received a cash prize of $ 25,000 for developing a soap capable of Contrast skin cancera project that could have important repercussions on a medical and social level.
The idea that led Bakele to victory is as innovative as it is surprising: A soap formulated to help the immune system fight skin cancer. The composition of the product is based on three active ingredients already known in the dermatological field: salicylic acid, glycolic acid and Trentinoin.
In the presentation video sent to the 3M jury, Bakele explained that these three compounds they work as keratolytic agentsor substances capable of exfoliating the skin by stimulating cell regeneration. According to the young inventor, the combined action of these ingredients would contribute to reactivate dendritic cellswhich play a crucial role in the immune response of the skin.
These cells, whose name derives from their branched shape similar to the branches of a tree, are able to detect anomalies and activate the immune system to combat cancer cells. In practice, the soap developed by Bakele could strengthen the natural defenses of the skin, helping the body to contrast the growth of skin tumors.
From the idea to the prototype
During the competition, Bakele worked alongside a engineering mentor of the 3Mwho accompanied him in the transformation of his idea into a working prototype. There Young Scientist Challengewhich came to his this year sixteenth editioninvites middle school students every year to find creative and scientifically valid solutions to real problems, using STEM disciplines (science, technology, engineering and mathematics).
The young inventor competed with nine other national finalists. The proposals in competition ranged from a Patch with microaguses for the administration of drugs to a glove capable of detecting some epileptic crisesdemonstrating the high level of innovation achieved by the participants.
During the presentation of his project, Bakele said he was deeply affected by high costs of care against skin cancer and come on low survival rates in the regions with limited access to health services, such as Ethiopiacountry of origin of his family. These inequalities prompted him to act:
When I heard for the first time of this problem, I was shocked by the number of avoidable deaths caused by this disease and I understood that I had to act.
According to 3m reports, Bakele does not intend to stop here. The young scientist is decided to further improve its formula and, in the future, found a non-profit organization To distribute soap a community that do not have access to adequate health care.
In the long term, Bakele dreams of becoming electrical engineerbut his current commitment already shows a remarkable scientific and social maturity. His project, in addition to having great potential in the medical field, represents a concrete example of how The younger generations can contribute with innovative ideas to the improvement of the world.
In August Bakele was also appointed by the Time Kid of the Years 2024
