David Anthony Brown. 10 February 1936—21 October 2023

David Anthony Brown (known as ‘DAB’) was an exceptional experimental scientist who pursued his lifelong interest in how drugs worked on the nervous system for over 60 years. He was unusual in spanning a wide spectrum of science, being adept at cellular and molecular studies but equally ‘at home’ in reading about behaviour. He also read across fields, notably in heart physiology, which was to propel David to his most significant achievement: the discovery of the M-current—a membrane voltage gated K + channel that markedly affected the excitability of nerve cells. This became his research passion, and he explored the physiological and pharmacological properties of the M-current K + channel, dissecting its mechanism of operation and its biophysical properties down to the single channel level. David was a pharmacologist at heart, and he was head of the Department of Pharmacology at the University of London School of Pharmacy and subsequently the Department of Pharmacology at University College London for over 20 years. He trained numerous young scientists, most of whom went on to become internationally renowned leaders in their field. David was a humble person with a razor-sharp mind who led by example, to the benefit of all. Even in his later years, when no longer running a laboratory, he contributed by writing and editing the well known tome From neuron to brain . When asked for advice at any time, he would always respond—a greatly admired feature. Overall, David was a consummate scientist who will be missed for his humour and wisdom.