Even if the active ingredients are already known, developing a new mode of application for an existing drug is an enormous accomplishment for a student his age. Plus, the alternative (minors doing experiments with unapproved drugs) is likely illegal, so there’s only so much they could do.
US student, 14, wins award for developing soap to treat skin cancer (www.theguardian.com)
Heman Bekele was inspired by Ethiopian workers laboring under the sun, and wanted to help ‘as many people as possible’...