Previously, we designed MK-X, a novel short peptide (21 amino acids) derived from the EPO site that binds to the weak binding site of EPO-receptor, and found that MK-X treatment has the neuroprotective effect under oxidative stress without the proliferation effect.23 Here, we examined the potential of MK-X as a therapeutic agent in an ischemic stroke model. This evidence concerns the gene EPO and ischemic stroke.