Systems and methods for modeling networks

A method comprising:

• receiving a query comprising pathway variables;
• determining an anchor set based on at least one of the pathway variables;
• translating the pathway variables into a pathway algebraic expression based on the anchor set;
• and
• executing the pathway algebraic expression on a graph database to return a pathway set.

A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing instructions that cause a processor executing the instructions to effectuate operations, the operations comprising:

• receiving a query comprising pathway variables;
• determining an anchor set based on at least one of pathway variables;
• identifying an evaluation order based on the anchor set;
• translating the pathway variables into a pathway algebraic expression based on the evaluation order;
• executing the pathway algebraic expression on a graph database to return a pathway set.