Dr Chinnery is internationally recognised as a leading expert in basic science research into corneal immunology, inflammation and neuroimmunology.

She is a teaching and research academic in the Department of Optometry and Vision Sciences (The University of Melbourne), and head of the Corneal and Ocular Immunology laboratory.

Dr Chinnery’s current research is aimed at understanding how the corneal nervous and immunological systems interact in the context of homeostasis, inflammation, injury and during metabolic and neurodegenerative diseases. Pre-clinical, fundamental research studies are designed to closely mimic conditions affecting the human ocular surface. This mouse-human translation approach is made possible by a close collaboration with Associate Professor Laura Downie, a clinician-scientist who leads the Anterior Eye, Clinical Trials and Research Translation Unit at the University of Melbourne. Together, they co-lead the FrontTear Research Centre.

Dr Chinnery is a long-standing member of the Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology (ARVO), is currently on the ARVO awards committee, and is an Associate Editor for Clinical and Experimental Optometry and Clinical and Experimental Ophthalmology.