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Summary Background Dedicated medical education posts are an exciting opportunity for doctors to focus on their development as clinical teachers. Within the seven hospital trusts that host students from the University of Bristol there are now 19 clinical teaching fellowship (CTF) posts. On starting a dedicated medical education post, the opportunities available can seem overwhelming, and on reflection many of the local 2012–13 CTFs would have changed their initial practice. The purpose of this article was to explore and collate the experiences of CTFs to produce a selection of practical ‘top tips’. Methods A questionnaire was sent to all 19 CTFs via e–mail, asking them to state what they would do the same and what they would do differently if they had their time again. Dedicated medical education posts are an exciting opportunity for doctors to focus on their development as clinical teachers Results Eight themes were drawn from the 13 (68%) returned questionnaires, with each theme mentioned between four and 11 times. The themes included: keeping a portfolio of evidence; personal development; undertaking educational research; developing as a clinical teacher; and administration. Conclusion Our aim for this article was to generate practical top tips for those doctors considering, about to start or having just commenced a dedicated teaching role, helping individuals to get the most from their time. It also explains what these teaching fellowships can involve, and gives those thinking of undertaking a dedicated teaching role a better idea of what to expect.

GABA(B) receptors (GABA(B)Rs) are involved in early events during neuronal development. The presence of GABA(B)Rs in developing oligodendrocytes has not been established. Using immunofluorescent co-localization, we have identified GABA(B)R proteins in O4 marker-positive oligodendrocyte precursor cells (OPCs) in 4-day-old mouse brain periventricular white matter. In culture, OPCs, differentiated oligodendrocytes (DOs) and type 2 astrocytes (ASTs) express both the GABA(B1abcdf) and GABA(B2) subunits of the GABA(B)R. Using semiquantitative PCR analysis with GABA(B)R isoform-selective primers we found that the expression level of GABA(B1abd) was substantially higher in OPCs or ASTs than in DOs. In contrast, the GABA(B2) isoform showed a similar level of expression in OPCs and DOs, and a significantly higher level in ASTs. This indicates that the expression of GABA(B1) and GABA(B2) subunits are under independent control during oligodendroglial development. Activation of GABA(B)Rs using the selective agonist baclofen demonstrated that these receptors are functionally active and negatively coupled to adenylyl cyclase. Manipulation of GABA(B)R activity had no effect on OPC migration in a conventional agarose drop assay, whereas baclofen significantly increased OPC migration in a more sensitive transwell microchamber-based assay. Exposure of cultured OPCs to baclofen increased their proliferation, providing evidence for a functional role of GABA(B)Rs in oligodendrocyte development. The presence of GABA(B)Rs in developing oligodendrocytes provides a new mechanism for neuronal-glial interactions during development and may offer a novel target for promoting remyelination following white matter injury.