Using a functional HIF-1α inhibitor and in vitro cultures of human BM-derived CD34+ HSCs under myeloid priming, we show that HIF-1α inhibition has a moderate beneficial effect, both qualitative and quantitative, on the low-risk MDS cultures, while it does not suffice to rescue the culture from demise in MDS with excess blasts 1/2 experiments. The gene discussed is HIF1A; the disease is myelodysplastic syndrome.