In the past decades, combustion chemistry research grew rapidly due to the development of combustion diagnostic methods,quantum chemistry methods, kinetic theory, and computational techniques. A lot of kinetic models have been developed for fuels from hydrogen to transportation fuel surrogates. Besides, multi-scale research method has been widely adopted to develop comprehensive models, which are expected to cover combustion conditions in real combustion devices. However, critical gaps still remain between the laboratory research and real engine application due to the insufficient research work on high pressure and low temperature combustion chemistry. Besides, there is also a great need of predictive pollutant formation model. Further development of combustion chemistry research depends on a closer interaction of combustion diagnostics, theoretical calculation and kinetic model development. This paper summarizes the recent progress in combustion chemistry research briefly and outlines the challenges and perspectives. In the past decades, combustion chemistry research rapidly involving due to the development of combustion diagnostic methods, quantum chemistry methods, kinetic theory, and computational techniques. A lot of kinetic models have been developed for hydrogen from hydrogen to transportation fuel surrogates. Besides, multi -scale research method has been widely adopted to develop comprehensive models, which are expected to cover combustion conditions in real combustion devices. However, critical gaps still remain between the laboratory research and real engine application due to the insufficient research work on high pressure and low Further development of combustion chemistry research depends on a closer interaction of combustion diagnostics, theoretical calculation and kinetic model development. This paper summarizes the recent progress in combustion chemistry research briefly and outlines the challenges and perspectives.