The development of a cell therapy for the neurodegenerative disorder Parkinson's disease is a realistic ambition. It is pursued by researchers and companies alike, and spans different donor tissue types of embryonic, fetal and adult origins. In this review, we briefly outline the past and current status of research and clinical trials with cell transplantation in Parkinson's disease. We discuss studies on donor tissue derived from embryonic ventral mesencephalon and assess the current research on various forms of stem cells of both embryonic and adult origins in the quest to develop a cell-based therapy for this debilitating movement disorder.