FAIRFAX COUNTY, Va. (WRIC) — A 14-year-old Virginian recently won a national science prize after developing a new kind of treatment for skin cancer patients.

Heman Bekele moved from Ethiopia to Virginia when he was four years old. As a student of W.T. Woodson High School, he researched skin cancer, learning how dendritic cells protect the skin by boosting immune responses.

After months of experimenting with different combinations of salicylic acid, glycolic acid and tretinoin, Bekele developed Skin Cancer Treating Soap (SCTS).

“It was so difficult to get a bar of soap that didn’t just melt immediately,” Bekele said. “Persistence is a very important part of the scientific process.”

Bekele continued to work on the product as part of the 3M Young Scientist Challenge where he received assistance from a 3M assigned mentor.

His goal throughout the process was to create a form of treatment that would be affordable for disproportionately affected skin cancer patients in developing countries.

  • Heman Bekele competed against nine other finalists at 3M’s headquarters in St. Paul, Minn. earlier this month before securing his victory. (Courtesy of Fairfax County Public Schools)
  • Woodson freshman Heman Bekele experiments with different combinations of products to develop his skin cancer treating soap. (Courtesy of Fairfax County Public Schools)
  • Woodson freshman Heman Bekele says he had to try dozens of different combinations to get the soap to hold together. (Courtesy of Fairfax County Public Schools)
  • A bar of Heman’s prize-winning SCTS or skin cancer treating soap. (Courtesy of Fairfax County Public Schools)

“Skin cancer is mostly found [in] people who live within developing countries,” Bekele said. “But the average price for an operation is $40,000. I was devastated by the idea of people having to choose between treatment and putting food on the table for their families. There are so many preventable deaths.”

According to Bekele, his SCTS can be made for $0.50 a bar, or $8.50 for a pack of 20 bars. He says using the soap every few days can help treat certain forms of skin cancer.

Earlier this month, Bekele secured his victory at the challenge’s events in St. Paul, Minnesota. He was awarded $25,000 along with his title which he says he plans to use on securing a patent and attending college.