Olfactory ensheathing cells (OECs) are Schwann cell-like glial cells of the olfactory system that have been shown to promote axonal regeneration and remyelination in a variety of different lesion paradigms. It is still a matter of debate in how far OECs differ from Schwann cells regarding their regenerative potential and molecular setup. The fact that OECs have been already used for transplantation in humans may imply that the need of the hour is the fine-tuning of clinical application details rather than to cross the bridge between laboratory animal and man. Considering the therapeutic transplantation of OECs, however, the basic question to date is not 'how' to translate but rather 'what' to translate into clinical practice. The aim of the present article is to provide a summary of the current literature and to define the open issues relevant for translating basic research on OECs into clinical practice.