The present disclosure provides a human neural stem cell comprising an exogenous polynucleotide coding for a growth factor such as IGF-1. Also disclosed are methods of using the human neural stem cells for the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases or disorders including, for example, ALS. The present disclosure generally relates to a human neural stem cell comprising an exogenous polynucleotide coding for a growth factor including, for example, a neurotrophic factor. In an embodiment, the growth factor is stably expressed by the human neural stem cell. Such human neural stem cells may be used for the treatment of a neurodegenerative disease or disorder in a subject in need thereof (e.g., a human subject having a neurodegenerative disease or disorder).
