In an interview with NPR, 14-year-old researcher Heman Bekele detailed his development of a novel bar soap called Melanoma Treating Soap, which is designed to combat skin cancer. Heman explained that until the age of 4, he was raised in Ethiopia, where he first noticed the potential damaging effects of the sun on workers who spent a lot of time outdoors. As he got older, he learned more about the global impact of skin cancer and the exorbitant costs of treatment for the disease. Wanting to create a more affordable treatment option for patients, Heman began innovating the novel soap in his family home with an emulsifier and chemicals. He then contacted researchers at the University of Virginia and Georgetown University for assistance—including his 3M-designated mentor, Deborah Isabelle, MS, a product engineering specialist in the Automotive Aftermarket Division at 3M. Heman described how the novel compound-based soap works: upon application, it delivers immune cell–activating and skin cancer–targeting drugs such as imidazoquinoline through lipid nanoparticles that transport the drugs throughout the skin. Though the bar soap has demonstrated efficacy in digital molecular testing, Heman does not yet have U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) certification to test the soap in human patients. However, he outlined a 5-year plan to attain FDA certification, conduct human trials, and establish a nonprofit organization to improve equitable access to skin cancer treatment. As a result of his work, Heman was the recipient of the $25,000 2023 3M Young Scientist’s Challenge. “[Heman is] intelligent, focused, inspiring, and energetic. He’s going to continue to inspire other young people to realize that science can make a positive difference,” concluded Ms. Isabelle.