He won $25,000 for his invention, which is a cost-effective way of treating skin cancer — with soap. Heman Bekele, 14, won $25,000 in 3M's 2023 Young Scientist Challenge, for inventing a bar of soap that could be used to treat skin cancer. Bekele's soap would work by activating the skin's natural immune response to fight skin cancer. 3MOne way doctors try to treat skin cancer is by ramping up our body's natural immune response against cancer cells. AdvertisementAdvertisementThis theory has been demonstrated by other skin cancer treatments, the most common of which is a topical cream that was originally made to treat genital warts.

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Persons: Heman Bekele, 3M's, —, Bekele, ramping, There's Organizations: Service, 3M's Locations: Virginia