In this study, hESC-MSCs, transduced to conditionally express VEGF (called hESC-MSC:VEGF), were co-transplanted with islets in a collagen-fibrin hydrogel in the omental pouch of diabetic nude mice in order to augment islet revascularization, thereby potentially reducing the amount of islets required to reverse diabetes in mice. The gene discussed is VEGFA; the disease is diabetes mellitus.