INRS develops an innovative infrared technology to improve fever screening and health resilience
VARENNES, QC, Nov. 27, 2025 /CNW/ – As cold weather sets in, viruses such as influenza, RSV, and COVID-19 are resurfacing. Quickly identifying symptomatic individuals is an essential part of any strategy to fight their spread. Yet, traditional thermal cameras, which measure facial temperature on the forehead or cheeks, are easily skewed by airflow, sweat, or face coverings–leading to unreliable readings.
To address this, a team at the Institut national de la recherche scientifique (INRS) led by Professor Jinyang Liang, an expert in computational imaging, has developed SPIRIT (Single-pixel infrared imaging thermometry), a technology that could change how we screen for fever in public spaces.
“SPIRIT is a next-generation technology that is simple, accurate, and easy to use. It has the potential to reshape fever monitoring in everyday settings,” says Jinyang Liang, the study’s lead investigator and Scientific Head of the Laboratory of Applied Computational Imaging.
Professor Liang, the Canada research chair in ultrafast computational imaging, worked in collaboration with Cheng Jiang, Patrick Kilcullen, Yingming Lai, and Professor Tsuneyuki Ozaki, all based at the INRS Énergie Matériaux Télécommunications Research Centre, a recognized leader in X-ray sources for biomedical applications. The team’s findings were published in Nature Communications.
A single pixel, a smarter scan
SPIRIT focuses on the most reliable spot on the face: the inner corners of the eyes, near the nose. These tiny areas are less affected by external conditions and better reflect core body temperature. The challenge? They’re small and far apart, so conventional cameras barely capture them–less than 0.5% of their pixels are dedicated to these zones.
SPIRIT solves this by using just one infrared pixel, combined with a clever light encoding system and computational reconstruction. This design concentrates 100% of detection on the most accurate zones, without expensive cooling systems or bulky sensors.
In tests with 39 volunteers, SPIRIT detected a fever case, tracked normal temperature changes throughout the day, and even picked up subtle differences linked to wearing glasses, all with compact, affordable hardware.
“What’s exciting is that we can map temperature with a single pixel and smart computation,” says Cheng Jiang, lead author and a postdoctoral fellow in Liang’s laboratory.
Jiang is currently working with QV Studio to explore SPIRIT’s potential beyond research and toward real-world applications. The team’s ultimate goal is commercialization, but several steps remain–starting with improving performance and preparing a pilot study in collaboration with healthcare institutions.
A tool for smarter public health
SPIRIT isn’t just precise–it’s practical. With real-time processing and subdegree accuracy (0.3 °C), it can be deployed in schools, clinics, transit hubs, and workplaces. By reducing false alarms, it lowers stress and avoids unnecessary testing costs.
SPIRIT is the first single-pixel infrared thermometry system that meets international standards. It measures human temperature in the clinically relevant range of 31.7–39.8 °C, making it a reliable tool for health screening.
These findings could help refine fever screening criteria and provide new tools to better prepare Québec and Canada for future epidemic waves.
About the study
Jiang, C., Kilcullen, P., Lai, Y. et al. Single-pixel infrared imaging thermometry maps human inner canthi temperature. Nat Commun 16, 8885 (2025). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-64125-3
This work was supported in part by the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (RGPIN-2024-05551, ALLRP 592389-23), the Canada Research Chairs Program (CRC-2022-00119), the INRS Chair in Nanobiophotonics, and the Fonds de Recherche du Québec – Nature et Technologies (203345–Centre d’Optique, Photonique, et Lasers).
About INRS
INRS is an academic institution dedicated exclusively to graduate research and training across several strategic sectors in Quebec. Founded in 1969, its mission is to actively contribute to Quebec’s economic, social, and cultural development. INRS ranks first in Quebec in research intensity. Its five interdisciplinary research and training centres, located in the city of Québec and in Montreal, Laval, Varennes, and Charlevoix, focus their efforts on the following strategic sectors: water, earth, and environment (Eau Terre Environnement Research Centre); energy, materials, and telecommunications (Énergie Matériaux Télécommunications Research Centre); urbanization, culture, and society (Urbanisation Culture Société Research Centre); health and biotechnology (Armand-Frappier Santé Biotechnologie Research Centre); and Ruralités durables (a centre currently under development). The INRS boasts a community of almost 1,500 members, including students, postdoctoral fellows, faculty members, and staff.
SOURCE Institut National de la recherche scientifique (INRS)
