Heman Bekele, a 14-year-old from Virginia, has invented a low-cost soap that may help treat skin cancer, or abnormal growth of skin cells. Last year, his research won the top prize in 3M’s Young Scientist Challenge.

The soap contains compounds that revive dendritic cells weakened by skin cancer. Once reactivated, these specialized skin cells boost the body’s disease-fighting immune system, helping combat the cancer. Currently, further tests are needed to determine the soap’s effectiveness. “I’m going to conduct more research on skin cancer, continue perfecting my formula, and work towards putting the bar of soap on the market,” says Heman