Disclosed herein is a therapeutic comprising hypoxia inducible factor-1 alpha (HIF-la). Also disclosed herein is a method for treating hypoxia or ischemia in a subject in need thereof. The method may comprise administering the vaccine to the subject in need thereof. In mammals, embryo development and maintenance of adult homeostatsis depend on the establishment of a functional vascular system that supplies oxygen (02) and other nutrients to the tissues and cells of the mammal.