Biography and Professional Career of Dr. Janet Chollet
Dr Janet Chollet is a board-certified obstetrician–gynecologist, biotechnology co-founder, and translational medicine leader with a long career centered on improving women’s health. Based in Boston, she serves as Co-Founder and Chief Medical Officer of Procyrn LLC, a company
advancing sustained-release hydrogel immune therapeutics and reformulated antivirals for maternal–fetal health, neuroinflammation, and HPV-related cervical disease. Her work reflects more than three decades of experience in clinical practice, academic medicine, and therapeutic innovation.
Early Academic Foundation
She began her academic journey with a Bachelor of Science in Neuroscience from the University of California, Santa Barbara Her interest in the connection between basic science and human physiology guided her decision to pursue medical training She earned her Doctor of Medicine degree from New York Medical College, completing her studies in the early 1990s and strengthening her commitment to a career grounded in patient care and scientific inquiry Following medical school, she entered the Obstetrics and Gynecology residency program at LAC/USC Women’s Hospital. These years shaped her long-term focus on improving therapeutic options for women and families and building a bridge between clinical experience and future medical solutions.
Clinical and Academic Career
After residency, she joined Magee-Women’s Hospital, an affiliate of the University of Pittsburgh. In this role, she balanced patient care with instructional duties, mentoring trainees while refining her interest in translational approaches that connect real-world clinical needs with emerging therapeutic concepts. She later joined Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center in Boston, where she continues to practice and teach These roles allowed her to combine direct patient care with ongoing research and development efforts.
Early Innovation and Intellectual Property
In 2005, she co-founded Pear Tree Pharmaceuticals, a company focused on developing site-targeted therapies for women who required alternatives to systemic or hormone-based treatments As Vice President of Clinical Affairs, she worked on programs supporting breast cancer survivors and women experiencing vulvovaginal atrophy. Her efforts contributed to three U S patents in topical and vaginal drug delivery, reflecting years of focused work on improving local therapy while reducing systemic risk These advances helped shape the company’s later merger with Dare Bioscience, which expanded the reach of the technologies she helped develop
Founding a New Venture
In 2023, she co-founded Procyrn LLC, where she now leads clinical development, translational strategy, and regulatory planning. The company focuses on areas of significant unmet need, including maternal–fetal health, neuroinflammation, and HPV-driven cervical disease The work is grounded in drug delivery science, aiming to improve therapeutic exposure, safety, and clinical outcomes.
Key Therapeutic Programs
At Procyrn, Dr Janet Chollet oversees three core therapeutic programs The first, PC101, targets life-threatening hypertensive disorders of pregnancy such as preeclampsia and HELLP syndrome These conditions often require preterm delivery, contributing to high medical and societal costs. PC101 uses a sustained-release hydrogel biologic to stabilize maternal–fetal health and reduce the need for early delivery. With preclinical studies completed, the program is progressing through further development with academic and industry partners
A second program explores immune-modulating therapeutics for C9orf72-associated amyotrophic lateral sclerosis Although her clinical background is in obstetrics and gynecology, her experience with immune-based therapeutics led to collaborative work addressing inflammatory pathways in neurodegenerative disease This initiative reflects her interest in applying translational principles across fields
The third program focuses on HPV-driven cervical dysplasia using a small-molecule, non-hormonal approach. The strategy selectively targets stress-survival pathways in abnormal squamous cells while sparing healthy cervical tissue, offering a more localized therapeutic option that differs from traditional antiviral or hormonal treatments
Exploratory Work on Maternal–Fetal Therapeutics
She is also exploring an early-stage concept for maternal–fetal immune therapeutics to reduce risks associated with neurodevelopmental disorders. Research suggests that maternal immune activation and placental inflammation may influence fetal brain development Drawing on preclinical studies, including viral models, the exploratory program examines whether stabilizing intrauterine conditions could confer long-term developmental benefits. Though still conceptual, the work demonstrates her interest in preventive approaches to maternal–fetal health
Regulatory and Development Leadership
Her leadership extends deeply into regulatory and development strategy She designs IND-enabling plans, establishes clear go/no-go criteria, and emphasizes reproducible preclinical data to support both scientific credibility and responsible decision-making This structured approach guides programs from discovery toward clinical evaluation, aligning scientific objectives with operational execution.
Creative Work and Broader Perspective
Earlier in her career, she co-wrote the well-known ER episode “Love’s Labor Lost,” which contributed to the series winning multiple Emmy Awards Although she received an offer to pursue television writing full-time, she chose to remain in medicine. This decision reflects her dedication to clinical work while also highlighting her creative interests, which continue to inform her perspective on patient stories and communication
Personal Interests and Balance
Outside her professional responsibilities, she values family, health, and creative exploration She maintains an active lifestyle, enjoys golf, and appreciates its focus on precision and process Travel, discovery, and writing remain important sources of inspiration She has also developed a growing interest in the practical applications of artificial intelligence in clinical workflows, examining how technology may support future advances in translational medicine.
Closing Perspective
Throughout her career, Dr Janet Chollet has built a path grounded in clinical experience, scientific rigor, and a drive to improve therapeutic options for patients Her work in women’s health, translational science, and biotechnology continues to shape programs intended to address unmet clinical needs She remains committed to advancing solutions that support mothers, families, and broader patient populations, reinforcing the values that have guided her professional and personal life.