Hypoxia inducible factor 1 (HIF-1) is a heterodimeric transcription factor that plays an important role in oxygen homeostasis. In response to low level of oxygen, subunit HIF-1alpha expression is upregulated and transactivates its target genes essential for energy metabolism, erythropoiesis and vascular development. HIF-1alpha is thought to be able to protect hypoxic cells from apoptosis or necrosis under ischemic and anoxic conditions, the major trauma factors that affect the recovery of brain and spinal cord injury. Here we report the construction of recombinant adenovirus vector overexpressing HIF-1alpha intended for gene therapy against desired neuronal injuries. The recombinant vector could be packaged and yielded significantly high viral titers at 2 x 10(13) CFU in HEK293T cells and good expression levels of HIF-1alpha when superinfected in Hela cells.