Biography
Robert is an Assistant Professor of Global Health Systems Resilience & Governance at Erasmus School of Health Policy & Management. He is a leading interdisciplinary scholar in sociological health policy and systems research, with expertise spanning health policy, sociology, and public administration. His work centres on how social ties and governance networks shape knowledge translation in health policy, particularly in post-colonial contexts. In 2024, he founded the Caribbean Health Policy & Governance (CHPG) network, which connects Dutch Caribbean health actors and researchers to foster evidence-informed policymaking.
Trained in international public health (cum laude) at Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam and holding a PhD in Science and Technology Studies from Erasmus University Rotterdam, Robert developed a novel conceptual approach to knowledge translation grounded in everyday social practice. As a postdoctoral researcher, he investigated crisis governance and health systems resilience in the Netherlands and the Dutch Caribbean. His expertise has led to several international collaborations, both academically and societally.
Robert is widely recognised for combining rigorous research with societal impact. He supervises multiple PhD and MSc projects, contributes as guest editor to Nature Humanities and Social Sciences Communications and as editorial board member to Health Research Policy and Systems. He is a regular reviewer for leading journals in the field and frequently invited as reviewer and panel member for funding agencies.
Robert was awarded two landmark ZonMw grants in 2023 and 2024 for research on health systems resilience in the Dutch Caribbean. Through CHPG, he institutionalises long-standing partnerships in the region to advance knowledge-responsive health systems.
Erasmus School of Health Policy & Management
- borst@eshpm.eur.nl
More information
Work
- Robert Borst, Yared Abayneh Abebe, Karin van Vuuren, Julien Magana, Bert de Graaff, Saba Hinrichs-Krapels, Bas Kolen, Maria Pregnolato, Anja Schreijer, Tina Comes, Sebastiaan N. Jonkman & Roland Bal (2025) - Keeping healthcare afloat: a protocol for a 5-year multi-sited interdisciplinary research project into preparedness of healthcare for floods in the Netherlands - Health Research Policy and Systems, 23 (1) - doi: 10.1186/s12961-025-01338-4
- Nathan Shuftan, Jane O'Flynn, Judith Meijer, Robert Borst, Soraya Verstraeten, Dorette Courtar, Giovanni Frans, Amy van der Linden, Indira Madhuban, Michael Mercuur & Ewout van Ginneken (2024) - The Caribbean Netherlands: Health System Review - Health systems in transition, 26 (2), 1-155 - [link]
- Robert Borst & Bert de Graaff (2024) - De dubbelzinnigheid van <i>resilience </i>in de zorg op Bonaire, Sint-Eustatius en Saba: eerste onderzoeksresultaten
- Robert A.J. Borst, Rik Wehrens, Moustapha Nsangou, Dachi Arikpo, Ekpereonne Esu, Ali Al Metleq, Olivia Hobden, Martin Meremikwu, Pierre Ongolo-Zogo, Roland Bal & Maarten Olivier Kok (2023) - What makes knowledge translation work in practice?: Lessons from a demand-driven and locally led project in Cameroon, Jordan and Nigeria - Health Research Policy and Systems, 21 (1) - doi: 10.1186/s12961-023-01083-6 - [link]
- Robert Borst (2023) - Mundane knowledge translation: Revealing the work that underlies evidence-informed policy
- Robert Borst, Karin Wisse, Bert de Graaff & Roland Bal (2023) - Caring for resilience: A knowledge agenda for health systems research in the Netherlands
- Robert Borst, Rik Wehrens & Roland Bal (2023) - “And when will you install the new water pump?”: disconcerted reflections on how to be a ‘good’ Global Health scholar - Globalization and Health, 19 (1) - doi: 10.1186/s12992-023-00919-8 - [link]
- Robert A.J. Borst, Rik Wehrens & Roland Bal (2023) - The Knowledge Translation Pizza-Dilemma: A Response to Recent Commentaries - International Journal of Health Policy and Management, 12 (1) - doi: 10.34172/ijhpm.2023.8296 - [link]
- Robert Borst, Rik Wehrens & Roland Bal (2022) - Sustaining Knowledge Translation Practices: A Critical Interpretive Synthesis - International Journal of Health Policy and Management, 11 (12), 2793-2804 - doi: 10.34172/ijhpm.2022.6424 - [link]
- Kimberley Meijers, Anke van der Kwaak, Ibrahim Aqel, Robert Borst, Françoise Jenniskens, Aryanti Radyowijati, Arnob Chakrabarty, Eric Nzeyimana, Ely Sawitri & Noor Tromp (2022) - Using a Rapid Knowledge Translation Approach for Better Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights in Bangladesh, Burundi, Indonesia, and Jordan - Global health, science and practice, 10 (2) - doi: 10.9745/GHSP-D-21-00461 - [link]
- Robert Borst & Bert de Graaff (2024) - Tussen ‘Acts of God’ en risicobeheersing: resilience in de zorg op Bonaire, Sint-Eustatius en Saba (Speaker)
Activity: Oral presentation › Academic - Robert Borst (2022) - What makes knowledge-to-action processes work? (Speaker)
Activity: Oral presentation › Academic - Robert Borst, Johanna Kostenzer & Roland Bal (2020) - Global Health is dead, long live global health! (Speaker)
Activity: Oral presentation › Academic
ZonMw
- Start date approval
- October 2024
- End date approval
- October 2027
- Place
- DEN HAAG
- Description
- Commissielid programma Palliantie II
Master Thesis HEPL
- Level
- master
- Year Level
- master
- Year
- 2024
- Course Code
- GW4555M
Master Thesis HE
- Year Level
- master, master
- Year
- 2024
- Course Code
- GW4592M
Sustainable Healthcare Organizations
- Level
- master
- Year Level
- master
- Year
- 2024
- Course Code
- GW4016MV
Sustainable Healthcare Organizations
- Level
- master - jaar 1
- Year Level
- master - jaar 1
- Year
- 2024
- Course Code
- GW4016MD
