This study focuses on individuals who have been diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), with symptoms present for less than 3 years.  The purpose of the study is to examine the safety and effectiveness of transplanting cells that have been genetically engineered to produce a growth factor into the motor cortex of ALS patients to determine whether these cells are safe and help protect the motor neuron cells that are damaged. The cells are called neural progenitor cells (NPC). A growth factor is a substance that is required for the stimulation of growth in living cells. The growth factor produced by the cells used in this study is called glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor, or GDNF.  Therefore, the investigational cells are called “CNS10-NPC-GDNF.”

Researchers aim to determine the safety of delivering CNS10-NPC-GDNF cells into the motor cortex (brain), as well as which dose of the cells is safe to use in people. The cells will be delivered to one side of the brain, into the area that controls movement of one arm and specifically, the hand.