NEW YORK, BRONX (ORDO News) — An American 14-year-old teenager from Fairfax, Virginia, has developed an unusual means of combating melanoma, the most aggressive form of skin cancer. Young genius Heman Bekele has created a soap called MTS (Melanoma Treating Soap) that will help treat this deadly disease.
At an age when many are still searching for their calling, Heman managed to create something amazing. For his efforts, the teenager was awarded the main prize in the 3M Young Scientist’s Challenge competition.
Heman’s MTS promises to be a more affordable and effective treatment for melanoma. This soap has been formulated using anti-cancer chemicals including imidazoquinoline, integrated with a nanolipid-based particle carrier that delivers drugs directly to cancer cells, activating the body’s immune system.
The impetus for creating MTS came from Heman’s childhood experiences in Ethiopia, where he observed the high prevalence of skin cancer, especially among people who worked outdoors. This experience made him realize the seriousness of the problem of skin cancer, not only in Ethiopia but throughout the world.
In a world where the cost of treating skin cancer reaches nearly $40,000, creating an affordable solution to treat this disease has become the young innovator’s main goal. Heman Bekele used digital molecular testing, experimenting with different ingredients and their combinations in a computer model to evaluate the effectiveness of MTS.
Despite promising results from digital testing, the soap has not yet been tested in humans due to the need for FDA certification. However, its potential as a treatment for melanoma is encouraging.
Heman Bekele shared his experience, noting that he began his research in the kitchen and basement of his home, without any special resources or equipment. However, his determination and scientific approach allowed him to achieve significant results.
Today, Heman is working on his project in collaboration with the universities of Virginia and Georgetown. He also hopes to use the prize money from the 3M Young Scientist’s Challenge to further his research in STEM and possibly fund his future education.
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News agencies contributed to this report, edited and published by ORDO News editors.
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