We demonstrated that intramyocardial transfection of HIF-1α and co-transplantation of mesenchymal stem cells enhanced cardiac repair in an experimental model of MI, in correlation with increased ability to induce angiogenesis, reduced apoptosis, and increased survival and engraftment of MSCs, thus having transformative impact on the treatment of patients suffering from severe myocardial ischemia. The gene discussed is HIF1A; the disease is myocardial infarction.