In addition to genetic modification, the survival of MSCs at the target site can be improved by pre-transplantation treatment with growth factors, such as insulin-like growth factor 1, FGF-2, bone morphogenetic protein-2, sphingosine 1-phosphate, or haemin, as shown in rodent models of MI [114,115,116]. Here, IGF1 is linked to myocardial infarction.