Among them vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and erythropoietin (Epo) originally identified as master regulators of angiogenesis and erythropoiesis, respectively, have also been shown to promote neuronal survival upon cerebral ischemia through induction of anti-apoptotic pathways [6], [7], [8], [9], [10]. Here, EPO is linked to brain ischemia.