The efficient and high level expression of therapeutic genes in target cells is critical for effective gene therapy. We have developed a novel promoter by utilizing tandem repeats of a tissue-specific regulatory element from the calcitonin/calcitonin gene-related peptide (CT/CGRP) gene placed in close proximity to a basal promoter, thereby removing interstitial sequences. This promoter drives expression of reporter genes at much higher levels than the natural promoter while significantly improving specificity in thyroid C cells.