Mervyn Maze is Professor of Anaesthetics and Head of the Department of Anaesthetics and Intensive Care at the Faculty of Medicine at Imperial College. He has made important contributions to our understanding of the molecular mechanisms of anaesthetic action. Having initially defined the anaesthetic action of alpha2 adrenergic agonists, he has used this as ‘window’ through which to investigate other anaesthetic agents. He has been able to show the unique manner by which nitrous oxide, a drug in clinical use for more than 150 years, acts to produce its analgesic effects. More recently his group has discovered the neuroprotective action and mechanisms of xenon, which is likely to result in further clinical utility.