A system may include a processor, an input, and memory comprising a graph database and executable instructions. The executable instructions may cause the processor to effectuate operations. The operations may include receiving, via the input, a query comprising pathway variables. The operations may also include determining an anchor set based on at least one of the pathway variables and identifying an evaluation order based on the anchor set. The operations may also include translating the pathway variables into a pathway algebraic expression based on the evaluation order. The operations may include executing the pathway algebraic expression on the graph database to return a pathway set.