Abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) is a vascular disease that affects tens of thousands of people around the world each year. The disease occurs most commonly in men over 60, and is characterized by a dilation of the abdominal aortic wall and often a persistent blood clot. The aorta is the largest artery in the body; it allows oxygenated blood to be distributed to organs and tissues throughout the body. Aneurysms, or localized dilatations, can form in the ascending or descending portions of the aorta within the chest or within the descending portion in the abdomen. Abdominal aneurysms are more common and when they rupture, they are often lethal. To read further, please visit http://www.hpcwire.com/off-the-wire/yale-researchers-use-tacc-sdsc-supercomputing-resources-to-study-vascular-disease/.